o4**t*  27, 
REUNION  OF  DESCENDANTS 

OF 

NATHANIEL    MERRIMAN 

AT 

WALLINGFORD,  CONN. 
JUNE  4,  1913 


WITH  A 

MERRIMAN    GENEALOGY 

FOR  FIVE  GENERATIONS 


NEW  HAVEN,  CONN. 

DONALD   L.   JACOBUS 

26   COURT  STREET 
1914 


PREFACE 


Nathaniel  Merriman  was  born  in  England  in  1613,  came 
to  Boston  in  1632,  served  in  the  Pequot  war  of  1637,  arrived 
in  New  Haven  about  1640  where  he  resided  until  1670, 
then  became  one  of  the  principal  founders  of  Wallingford 
where  he  died  in  1694. 

An  increasing  interest  in  the  life  and  work  of  Nathaniel 
Merriman  having  recently  been  manifested  by  some  of 
his  descendants,  it  seemed  appropriate  to  hold  a  Reunion 
in  the  three-hundredth  year  after  his  birth.  Accordingly 
a  committee  consisting  of  Mansfield  Merriman  of  New 
York,  George  M.  Curtis  of  Meriden,  Conn.,  Roger  B. 
Merriman  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Donald  L.  Jacobus  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  with  the  undersigned  as  chairman, 
issued  circulars  and  prepared  a  program  for  the  Reunion 
which  was  duly  held  at  Wallingford,  Conn.,  on  June  4,  1913. 

Parts  I  and  II  of  this  volume,  containing  the  proceedings 
of  that  Reunion,  the  papers  there  read,  and  other  matter 
regarding  the  history  of  the  Merriman  family,  have  been 
compiled  by  Mansfield  Merriman,  the  secretary  of  the 
general  committee  of  five,  who  has  read  all  the  proofs  and 
prepared  the  index. 

Part  III,  compiled  by  Donald  L.  Jacobus,  is  a  Merriman 
genealogy  for  the  first  five  generations  commencing  with 
Nathaniel,  and  it  also  gives  the  names  and  years  of  birth 

3 


4  PREFACE 

of  those  of  the  sixth  generation  as  far  as  now  known.  It 
is  hoped  to  extend  this  genealogy  to  later  generations  at 
some  future  time.  All  descendants  who  can  collect  matter 
for  its  improvement  and  extension  are  earnestly  requested  to 
do  so  during  1914  and  to  have  the  same  ready  to  record  on 
blanks  which  will  be  sent  to  them  in  1915.  As  this  volume 
can  reach  but  comparatively  few  of  the  family,  it  is  hoped 
that  all  who  see  it  will  give  this  notice 'as  wide  a  circula- 
tion as  possible. 

GEORGE  B.  MERRIMAN, 
Chairman  of  General  Committee. 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Dec.,  1913. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

FRONTISPIECE:  HALF-TONE  OF  PHOTOGRAPH  TAKEN  JUNE  4,  1913 
PREFACE  BY  GEORGE  B.  MERRIMAN 3 

PART  I.    THE  REUNION 

NAMES  OF  THOSE  WHO  REPLIED  TO  CIRCULARS 9 

ATTENDANCE  AT  THE  REUNION 14 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  REUNION 17 

ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME,  BY  MRS.  WILLIAM  H.  GODDARD 29 

ANCESTRY  AND  PARENTAGE  OF  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN,  BY  GEORGE 

B.  MERRIMAN 32 

THE  PURITAN  PLOUGH  COMPANY,  AND  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN 

NEW  ENGLAND,  1630-1640,  BY  ROGER  B.  MERRIMAN 38 

NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN   NEW  HAVEN,   1640-1670,   BY   Miss 

ALICE  M.  MERRIMAN » 47 

THE  CHILDREN  OF  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN 57 

THE  FOUNDERS  OF  WALLINGFORD,  A  POEM,  BY  DONALD  L.  JACOBUS    60 
NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  WALLINGFORD,  1670-1694,  BY  MANS- 
FIELD MERRIMAN 64 

KING  PHILIP'S  WAR  AND  THE  SERVICES  RENDERED  THEREIN  BY 
NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  AND  His  ELDEST  SON,  BY  GEORGE 

M.  CURTIS 70 

THE  WILL  AND  ESTATE  OF  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN 77 

LETTERS   FROM   DESCENDENTS   WHO   COULD   NOT   ATTEND   THE 
REUNION 83 

PART  II.    ALLIED  PAPERS 

WALLINGFORD  TOWN  MEETINGS,  1670-1692 95 

THE  MERRIMAN  AND  MUNSON  FAMILIES,  BY  REV.  MYRON  A. 

MUNSON 104 

GENEALOGICAL  SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  IN  1913,  BY  MANSFIELD 

MERRIMAN 107 

5 


6  CONTENTS 

PART  III.    GENEALOGY 

PAGE 

GENEALOGY  OF  THE  MERRIMAN  FAMILY  FOR  FIVE  GENERATIONS 
COMMENCING    WITH    CAPT.    NATHANIEL,    BY    DONALD    L. 

JACOBUS 137 

NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN,  FOUNDER 137 

THE  SECOND  GENERATION 139 

THE  THIRD  GENERATION 147 

THE  FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS 154 

APPENDIX  AND   INDEX 

THE  HISTORICAL  YEAR  AND  THE  LEGAL  YEAR 173 

INDEX  OF  AMERICAN  MERRIMANS 175 

UNSOLVED  PROBLEMS 187 


PART  I 
THE  REUNION 


PRELIMINARY  CIRCULARS  AND   PROGRAMS 


In  March,  1913,  a  circular  was  sent  to  about  240  persons 
who  were  supposed  to  be  descendants  of  Nathaniel  Merri- 
man,  and  from  them  68  replies  were  received,  many  of 
which  gave  the  names  of  other  descendants.  In  May  1913 
a  program  of  the  Reunion  to  be  held  on  June  4  was  sent  to 
325  persons  from  whom  154  replies  were  received.  The 
following  list  gives  the  names  of  descendants  or  members 
of  their  families  who  replied  to  one  or  both  circulars.  Some 
who  were  unable  to  attend  sent  letters  of  greeting  which 
will  be  found  on  pages  83-91. 

Edward  M.  Merriman,  Con  way,  Arkansas. 

Alvin  F.  Merriman,  Oakland,  California. 

Mrs.  John  Hamilton,  Alvinston,  Ontario,  Canada. 

Vinton  R.  Merriman,  Belleville,  Ontario,  Canada. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lockwood,  Brighton,  Ontario,  Canada. 

Miss  Hattie  R.  Stephens,  Coburg,  Ontario,  Canada. 

George  Isaiah  Merriman,  Colborne,  Ontario,  Canada. 

John  M.  Black,  Montreal,  Canada. 

Mrs.  Kate  G.  Crowle,  Toronto,  Canada. 

Mrs.  Eben  White,  Longmont,  Colorado. 

Miss  Susan  E.  Merriam,  Branford,  Connecticut. 

E.  R.  Sutliff,  Bridgeport,  Connecticut. 

Carleton  W.  Buell,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

George  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

George  M.  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Edward  W.  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Dana  Sibley  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Henry  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

9 


10  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

George  Ransom  Johnson,  Cheshire,  Connecticut. 

John  J.  Merriman,  Hartford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  George  W.  Griffith,  Lime  Rock,  Connecticut. 

Arthur  H.  Merriman,  Marion,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Merriman  Billard,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Mary  A.  Butler,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

George  M.  Curtis,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Charles  H.  Fales,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Seth  J.  Hall,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Merriman,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Claude  V.  Sutliffe,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Ella  I.  Smith,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Caroline  Merriman  Goodyear,  Naugatuck,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  George  W.  Fisk,  Newington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Celia  Adelaide  Shepard,  New  Britain,  Connecticut. 

Donald  L.  Jacobus,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  George  Bushnell  Martin,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Alice  M.  Merriman,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

H.  Merriman  Steele,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  W.  P.  Tuttle,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Jane  Lewis  Bull,  Plainville,  Connecticut. 

Joseph  R.  Merriman,  Plainville,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Andrews,  Plantsville,  Connecticut. 

Henry  J.  Merriman,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Theodore  H.  McKenzie,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Samuel  H.  McKenzie,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Elijah  Rogers,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Josiah  H.  Merriman,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Jackson  Martin,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Helen  Frost  Beckley,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Reuben  T.  Frost,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Frederick  A.  Sutliffe,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Sylvia  Ann  Savage,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

J.  H.  Pratt,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Oliver  Woodruff,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Walter  H.  Neal,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Merriman  Buell,  Terryville,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Charles  W.  Wolcott,  Terryville,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Hayes,  Torrington,  Connecticut. 


PRELIMINARY  CIRCULARS  11 

Mrs.  O.  P.  Merriman,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  William  H.  Goddard,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Edward  M.  Johnson,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Agnes  E.  Hall,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  S.  M.  Backes,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Julia  R.  Barnes,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Sally  Andrews  Powers,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

William  A.  MacKenzie,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Emily  E.  Merriman,  Waterbury,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Helen  C.  Merriman,  Waterbury,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Kate  A.  Prichard,  Waterbury,  Connecticut. 

Thurston  Cables  Merriman,  Waterbury,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Adelaide  Frost,  Waterbury,  Connecticut. 

Harry  Morton  Merriman,  Watertown,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Buell  Hemingway,  Watertown,  Connecticut. 

Edward  D.  Merriman,  Westport,  Connecticut. 

Mary  E.  Merriman,  Westville,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Carrie  Frost  King,  Windsor,  Connecticut. 

George  B.  Merriman,  Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 

F.  K.  Merriman,  Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 

Charles  N.  Merriman,  Orlando,  Florida. 

Mrs.  Eleanor  Francis  Evans,  Zephyrhills,  Florida. 

Irving  W.  Hart,  Bois6,  Idaho. 

Mrs.  Laura  Allen,  Belvidere,  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Lydia  C.  Poyer,  Belvidere,  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Mattie  Merriman  Nourse,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Miss  Josephine  A.  Merriman,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Caroline  Merriman  Tomlinson,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Charles  M.  Newton,  Chicago,  Illinois. 

Lucius  H.  Merriman,  Clinton,  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Clinton  Judd,  Dixon,  Illinois. 

Frank  C.  Catterlin,  Heyworth,  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Samuel  Earngey,  Rockford,  Illinois. 

Isaiah  Merriman  Clark,  Elkhart,  Indiana. 

Frank  B.  Merriman,  Marion,  Indiana. 

Miss  Gertrude  Merriman,  Terre  Haute,  Indiana. 

Arthur  H.  Bennett,  Topeka,  Kansas. 

George  B.  Merriman,  Ottowa,  Kansas. 

James  Leigh  Merriman,  Bolton,  Massachusetts. 


12  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

Miss  L.  Beatrice  Merriman,  Boston,  Massachusetts. 

Roger  B.  Merriman,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

Frank  W.  Merriman,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

Mrs.  Ella  Bull  Lewis,  Chicopee,  Massachusetts. 

Mrs.  Amelia  Frost  Ives,  Dedham,  Massachusetts. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Snow  Shattuck,  Hinsdale,  Massachusetts. 

Elliot  A.  Clark,  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts. 

Mrs.  Titus  M.  Merriman,  Revere,  Massachusetts. 

Earl  C.  Merriman,  Shirley,  Massachusetts. 

Mrs.  Gabriel  Campbell,  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan. 

Joel  Chauncey  Merriman,  Deckerville,  Michigan. 

George  Porter  McMahon,  Detroit,  Michigan. 

Miss  Louise  B.  Merriman,  Grass  Lake,  Michigan. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Merriman  Lawrence,  Grass  Lake,  Michigan. 

George  W.  Merriman,  Hartford,  Michigan. 

Miss  Belle  Merriman,  Jackson,  Michigan. 

Willis  G.  Merriman,  Lowell,  Michigan. 

Charles  F.  Merriman,  Manchester,  Michigan. 

George  F.  Macklam,  Manistee,  Michigan. 

George  Elliott  Merriman,  Napoleon,  Michigan. 

Mrs.  Emma  G.  Merriman  Blanchard,  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

Mrs.  Agnes  Merriman  Woods,  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

Mrs.  Florence  Merriman  Young,  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

Mrs.  Clara  Merriman  Bell,  Mina,  Nevada. 

Mrs.  Julia  Merriman  Humphrey,  Englewood,  New  Jersey. 

Thaddeus  Merriman,  Essex  Fells,  New  Jersey. 

Rev.  Samuel  Sears  Merriman,  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 

Porter  Lee  Merriman,  Albany,  New  York. 

M.  L.  Merriman,  Hornell,  New  York. 

Mrs.  Sara  Merriman  Hart,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

Dr.  H.  Hemingway  Merriman,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

Mrs.  Lucy  Merriman  Farmer,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

William  E.  Reed,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

Mansfield  Merriman,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

Norman  Nathaniel  Merriman,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

Dr.  Willis  E.  Merriman,  Poughkeepsie,  New  York. 

Charles  C.  Merriman,  Sodus,  New  York. 

Leonard  J.  Merriman,  Wilmington,  North  Carolina. 

H.  O.  Merriman,  Cleveland,  Ohio. 


PRELIMINARY  CIRCULARS  13 

Asa  G.  Judd,  Warren,  Ohio. 

George  Merriman,  Muskogee,  Oklahoma. 

Mrs.  Auguste  C.  Merriman  Quigley,  Bellefont,  Pennsylvania. 

Dr.  George  C.  Merriman,  Lake  Como,  Pennsylvania. 

Mrs  Helen  Merriman  Lynch,  Olyphant,  Pennsylvania. 

E.  L.  Merriman,  Scranton,  Pennsylvania. 

C.  LaRue  Munson,  Williamsport,  Pennsylvania. 

Richard  Mansfield  Merriman,  San  Juan,  Porto  Rico. 

Charles  H.  Merriman,  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 

Harold  T.  Merriman,  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 

Clara  L.  Cranston,  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 

S.  B.  Van  Nostrand,  Chattanooga,  Tennessee. 

Mrs.  Maude  Merriman  Huffman,  Lebanon,  Tennessee. 

Eli  T.  Merriman,  Corpus  Christi,  Texas. 

Homer  Arden  Judd,  Fort  Worth,  Texas. 

Jefferson  Davis  Merriman,  Laredo,  Texas. 

Maurice  H.  Merriman,  Seattle,  Washington. 

Mrs.  Mina  Clark  Albright,  Tacoma,  Washington. 

Miss  Alice  P.  Merriman,  Madison,  Wisconsin. 


ATTENDANCE  AT  THE  REUNION 


The  following  list  gives  names  and  addresses  of  124 
descendants  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  and  members  of  the 
families  of  descendants,  who  were  present  at  the  Reunion 
on  June  4,  1913.  Since  some  failed  to  register,  this  list  is 
not  complete.  Judging  by  the  well-filled  hall,  which  had 
a  seating  capacity  of  150,  the  total  number  of  persons  who 
were  present  at  the  Reunion  was  about  140. 

Miss  Susan  E.  Merriam,  Branford,  Connecticut. 

Henry  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

George  Macy  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Frances  A.  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  W.  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

George  M.  Merriman,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  W.  Ford,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Anna  Q.  Perkins,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

Paul  G.  Ford,  Bristol,  Connecticut. 

George  Ransom  Johnson,  Cheshire,  Connecticut. 

Joseph  R.  Johnson,  Cheshire,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Paul  Klingke,  Cheshire,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Gertrude  Klingke,  Cheshire,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Merriman  Treadway,  Litchfield,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arthur  H.  Merriman  and  five    sons,  Marion, 

Connecticut. 

Edson  Merriman,  Marion,  Connecticut. 
Mrs.  Harriet  Merriman  Billard,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 
Miss  Mary  A.  Butler,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 
Mrs.  Seth  J.  Hall,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  A.  Merriman,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

14 


ATTENDANCE  AT  THE  REUNION  15 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  M.  Curtis,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  B.  Church,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Eli  Ives  Merriman,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Merriman,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Hattie  Merriman  Pierce,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Joel  Ives,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  John  C.  Pitel,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Ella  I.  Smith,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  A.  Robbins,  Meriden,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Caroline  Merriman  Goodyear,  Naugatuck,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Esther  Merriman  Goodyear,  Naugatuck,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlisle  H.  Baldwin,  New  Britain,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Emily  A.  Merriman,  New  Britain,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Alice  M.  Merriman,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

D.  P.  Atwood,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  B.  Martin,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ernest  A.  Merriman,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Frederick  Carter  Upson,  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar  Buell,  Plymouth,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Fred  Buell,  Plymouth,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  J.  Merriman,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Floyd  Merriman,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Davis,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Leona  Davis,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Frederick  A.  Sutliffe,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Josiah  H.  Merriman,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  H.  McKenzie,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Theodore  H.  McKenzie,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Fannie  L.  McKenzie,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Eunice  McKenzie,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elijah  Rogers,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Jackson  Martin,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Ella  Finch  Brooks,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Arabella  Brooks,  Southington,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Charles  W.  Wolcott,  Terryville,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Marion  A.  Wolcott,  Terryville,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  Buell,  Terryville,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  William  H.  Goddard,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Bessie  C.  Barnes,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 


16  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

Mrs.  Emily  J.  Francis,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  S.  M.  Backes,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  L.  A.  Francis,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Agnes  E.  Hall,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Julia  M.  Hall,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Julia  R.  Barnes,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Robbins  A.  Hall,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  A.  MacKenzie,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  M.  Johnson,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Benjamin  R.  Townsend,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  Sally  Andrews  Powers,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Ruth  Powers,  Wallingford,  Connecticut. 

Miss  C.  R.  Hill,  Waterbury,  Connecticut. 

William  B.  Merriman,  Waterbury,  Connecticut. 

Miss  Kate  A.  Prichard,  Waterbury,  Connecticut. 

Misses  Adelaide  L.  and  Minnie  C.  Frost,  Waterbury,  Connecticut 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Buell  Hemingway,  Watertown,  Connecticut. 

Mrs.  E.  R.  Hallenbeck,  Yalesville,  Connecticut. 

George  B.  Merriman,  Washington,  District  of  Columbia. 

James  Leigh  Merriman,  Bolton,  Massachusetts. 

Roger  B.  Merriman,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

Frank  W.  Merriman,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts. 

Mrs.  Elisha  J.  Neale,  Lowell,  Massachusetts. 

Earl  C.  Merriman,  Shirley,  Massachusetts. 

Mrs.  F.  E.  Merriman,  Shirley,  Massachusetts. 

Mrs.  Ellen  M.  Russell,  Westfield,  Massachusetts. 

Rev.  Samuel  Sears  Merriman,  Trenton,  New  Jersey. 

Thaddeus  Merriman,  Essex  Fells,  New  Jersey. 

Porter  Lee  Merriman,  Albany,  New  York. 

Mrs.  Clara  M.  Page,  Bronxville,  New  York. 

M.  L.  Merriman,  Hornell,  New  York. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mansfield  Merriman,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

Miss  Elsie  Merriman,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

Mrs.  F.  Malcolm  Farmer,  New  York  City,  New  York. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leonard  J.  Merriman,  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  L.  Merriman,  Scranton,  Pennsylvania. 

Charles  H.  Merriman,  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 

Harold  T.  Merriman,  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 

Mrs.  Eva  Merriman  Addis,  Brattleboro,  Vermont 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  REUNION 


Before  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  June 
4,  1913,  many  descendants  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  appeared 
in  Main  Street,  Wallingford,  and  wended  their  way  to  the 
Public  Library  where  the  Reunion  was  to  be  held.  The 
day  was  bright  and  clear,  and  all  comers  were  correspondingly 
cheerful.  On  entering  the  door  of  the  library  building, 
they  were  met  by  a  reception  committee  of  ladies,  all 
descendants  of  Nathaniel  Merriman,  who  extended  kind 
words  of  welcome  to  each;  this  committee  consisted  of  Mrs. 
William  H.  Goddard,  Mrs.  Perley  Powers,  Mrs.  S.  M. 
Backes,  all  of  Wallingford,  and  Mrs.  Eva  Merriman  Addis, 
of  Brattleboro,  Vt. 

Ascending  the  stairs  to  the  meeting  hall,  a  committee 
composed  of  William  A.  MacKenzie,  of  Wallingford,  and 
Porter  Lee  Merriman  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  attended  to  the 
registration  of  names  and  addresses,  and  to  the  distribu- 
tion of  tickets  for  the  luncheon. 

Entering  the  hall  it  was  seen  to  be  very  prettily  decorated 
with  laurel,  ferns,  daisies,  and  American  flags;  the  young 
ladies  who  had  so  well  arranged  these  decorations  were  the 
Misses  Ruth  Powers,  Bessie  Barnes  and  Julia  Hall,  of 
Wallingford,  all  descendants  of  Capt.  Nathaniel. 

The  general  committee  which  had  prepared  the  program 
of  the  meeting  consisted  of  Prof.  George  B.  Merriman  of 

17 


18  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

Washington,  D.  C.,  Mansfield  Merriman  of  New  York, 
George  M.  Curtis  of  Meriden,  Conn.,  Prof.  Roger  B.  Merri- 
man of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  Donald  L.  Jacobus  of  New 
Haven,  Conn. 

The  Local  Committee  which  had  arranged  the  details 
regarding  the  place  of  meeting  and  the  midday  luncheon 
consisted  of  George  M.  Curtis  of  Meriden,  Conn.,  Mrs. 
William  H.  Goddard,  and  William  A.  MacKenzie  of 
Wallingford. 

The  names  and  addresses  of  those  who  were  present  at 
the  Reunion  will  be  found  in  the  list  on  pages  14-16. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  at  10.30  A.M,  by  Prof. 
George  B.  Merriman  of  Washington,  D.C.,  the  Chairman 
of  the  General  Committee.  In  the  absence  of  a  clergyman 
he  opened  the  exercises  with  a  brief  prayer,  the  audience 
standing. 

An  address  of  welcome  to  Wallingford  was  then  given 
by  Mrs.  William  H.  Goddard  whose  grandfather  was  a 
Merriman  descended  from  Nathaniel  through  his  son  John. 
This  address  will  be  found  below  on  pages  29-31. 

The  acting  Chairman  then  briefly  addressed  the  audi- 
ence as  follows: 

LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN:  This  meeting  has  been  called 
not  only  to  commemorate  the  three-hundredth  anniversary 
of  our  ancestor's  birth,  but  also  to  stimulate  a  greater 
interest  in  the  life  and  character  of  that  worthy  ancestor, 
Nathaniel  Merriman.  And  we  cherish  the  hope  that  it 
may  serve  to  draw  out  from  their  hiding  places  any  old 
letters  or  manuscripts  that  have  any  connection  with 


PROCEEDINGS  19 

Nathaniel,  or  any  of  his  family,  whether  such  hiding  place 
be  in  the  household  garret  or  in  the  archives  of  town  or 
state.  Already  one  such  manuscript  has  recently  come  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  committee,  and  it  is  not  improbable 
that  there  are  others  that  should  be  brought  to  light.  Look 
through  your  ancestral  trunks,  or  your  files  of  old  papers 
that  have  been  laid  away  perhaps  for  generations,  and  see 
if  you  cannot  make  an  important  discovery. 

Now,  friends,  remember  this  is  the  day  to  extend  our 
acquaintance.  As  we  are  all  cousins,  it  is  not  necessary  to 
observe  strict  formality.  Introduce  yourselves  to  each  other 
and  let  your  good  will,  your  kinship  and  sympathy  be 
cordially  manifest.  The  opportunity  is  brief;  please  make 
the  most  of  it. 

He  then  announced  that  the  General  Committee  had 
appointed  Porter  Lee  Merriman,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  to  act 
as  the  Secretary  of  the  meeting.  He  also  requested  that 
the  other  members  of  the  General  Committee  would  act 
in  his  place  as  Chairman  of  the  meeting  during  the  day. 
In  accordance  with  this  request  Mansfield  Merriman  of 
New  York  and  George  M.  Curtis  of  Meriden  presided  dur- 
ing the  morning  session,  while  Roger  B.  Merriman  of  Cam- 
bridge, Mass,  and  Mansfield  Merriman  presided  during  the 
afternoon. 

"  The  Ancestry  and  Parentage  of  Nathaniel  Merriman 
and  his  probable  manner  of  life  in  boyhood  and  youth," 
was  the  title  of  the  first  paper,  which  was  read  by  its  author 
Prof.  George  B.  Merriman  of  Washington,  D.  C.  This 
paper  is  given  on  pages  32-37. 

The  paper  was  discussed  by  George  M.  Curtis  of  Meriden 
and  Mansfield  Merriman  of  New  York.  Rev.  Samuel 
Sears  Merriman  of  Trenton,  N.  J.,  said  that  the  grandfather 


20  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

of  his  father,  who  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War 
wrote  an  autobiographical  sketch  in  which  he  claimed  descent 
from  George  Merriman  "  an  artizen  of  London."  This 
manuscript  is  now  in  the  possession  of  some  member  of 
the  family  and  efforts  will  be  made  to  locate  it.  This  is  the 
only  known  verification  of  the  statement  in  the  will  of 
George  Merriman,  made  in  1655,  that  his  son  Nathaniel 
was  then  a  resident  of  New  England. 

During  the  discussion  of  this  paper  reference  was  made 
to  the  date  of  birth  of  Nathaniel  Merriman.  The  only 
known  record  regarding  this  is  that  in  the  Wallingford 
books  where  is  found  "  Capt.  Nathaniel  Merriman  dececed 
in  the  8ost  year  of  his  age  ffebruary  13  1693/4."  In  a  copy 
of  these  records  made  by  the  town  clerk  John  A.  Martin 
about  twenty  years  ago  there  is  found  86th  instead  of  8ost, 
and  it  appears  that  the  original  record,  when  hastily 
observed,  might  be  supposed  to  read  86,  although  a  careful 
study  of  it  indicates  beyond  doubt  that  it  was  intended 
for  80.  The  suffix  "  st  "  remains  to  be  explained,  and  it 
might  be  thought  that  the  recorder  intended  to  write  81, 
since  a  small  stroke  appears  above  the  o.  In  view  of  all  the 
facts  it  appears  most  probable  that  Nathaniel  Merriman 
was  born  in  the  year  1613,  and  hence  this  Reunion  may  be 
appropriately  called  a  tricentennial.  There  are  absolutely 
no  known  facts  to  support  the  statement  made  by  John 
Merriman  Adams  about  twenty  years  ago  that  the  date  of 
Capt.  Nathaniel's  birth  was  June  2  and  that  the  place  of 
his  birth  was  Tenterden  in  Kent,  England. 

"  The  Puritan  Plough  Company  of  1630,  the  voyage  of 
Nathaniel  Merriman  to  Boston  in  1632,  and  his  probable 
whereabouts  in  New  England  prior  to  1640,"  was  the  title 
of  the  second  paper  which  was  read  by  its  author  Prof. 


PROCEEDINGS  21 

Roger  B.  Merriman  of  Cambridge,  Mass.     This  paper  will 
be  found  on  pages  38-46. 

Regarding  the  services  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  in  the 
Pequot  war,  it  was  stated  by  Mansfield  Merriman  of  New 
York,  that  James  Shepard  of  New  Britain,  Conn.,  had 
made  special  searches  to  determine  the  residence  of  Nathaniel 
in  New  England  prior  to  his  arrival  in  New  Haven  in  1641, 
but  without  success.  It  may  be  possible  that  he  remained 
in  Massachusetts  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Pequot  war, 
or  he  might  have  come  to  Windsor,  Wethersfield,  or  Hart- 
ford with  the  settlers  of  1636.  If  he  resided  in  Connecticut 
after  the  Pequot  war,  the  town  of  his  residence  is  unknown 
prior  to  his  arrival  in  New  Haven.  It  is  greatly  to  be  hoped 
that  there  may  yet  be  discovered  some  old  letter  or  record 
which  will  lead  to  a  knowledge  of  his  whereabouts  during 
the  years  1632-1640.  Wherever  he  was  located  we  may  be 
sure  that  he  was  actively  engaged  in  clearing  land,  pro- 
tecting his  family  from  the  Indians,  and  cooperating  with 
others  in  the  development  of  the  new  country. 

"  Nathaniel  Merriman  in  New  Haven,  1640-1670,"  was 
the  title  of  the  third  paper  which  was  read  by  its  author 
Miss  Alice  M.  Merriman  of  New  Haven,  Conn.  This 
paper  is  given  in  full  on  pages  47-56. 

In  the  discussion  which  followed  Prof.  Roger  B.  Merriman 
of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  M.  L.  Merriman  of  Hornell,  N.  Y., 
and  others  participated. 

Regarding  the  signatures  on  the  New  Haven  planters 
agreement  of  June  4,  1639,  mention  was  made  of 
the  one  supposed  to  be  Richard  Merriman  by  Hoadley, 
the  editor  of  the  Records  of  the  Colony  of  New  Haven. 
Prof.  Roger  B.  Merriman  stated  that  he  had  carefully 
examined  the  photographs  of  this  signature  and  was  con- 


22  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

fident,  from  his  acquaintance  with  seventeenth  century 
handwriting,  that  the  name  was  not  Merriman.  The 
author  stated  that  since  writing  her  paper  she  had  seen  the 
original  manuscript  giving  the  signatures  and  fully  agreed 
with  that  conclusion. 

Three  children  of  Nathaniel  were  baptized  on  27  June 
1661.  This  indicates  that  Nathaniel  and  his  wife  were 
probably  not  members  of  the  church  prior  to  that  date. 
The  seating  list  of  the  meeting-house  for  20  Feb.  1661 
mentions  Sister  Merriman,  the  prefix  "  Sister  "  indicating 
that  she  was  then  a  member.  A  list  of  the  members  of  the 
first  church  in  New  Haven,  compiled  by  Henry  White  about 
1850,  contains  the  names  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  and  Joan 
(Nathaniel)  Merriman  as  members  in  1661;  the  date  of 
death  of  Nathaniel  is  given  as  1694  but  that  of  Joan  is  not 
stated.  It  does  not  seem  to  follow  from  this  compilation 
that  the  name  of  the  Sister  Merriman  who  is  mentioned  in 
the  seating  list  was  really  Joan;  this  name  might  have  been 
obtained  by  White  from  some  later  record  which  showed 
Nathaniel  and  Joan  to  be  then  husband  and  wife.  The 
fact  that  no  daughter  or  granddaughter  of  Nathaniel  was 
named  Joan  may  perhaps  warrant  the  inference  that  she  was 
not  the  mother  of  his  children. 

"The  Children  of  Nathaniel  Merriman"  was  the  next 
topic.  The  Chairman  made  a  brief  statement  regarding 
each  child,  asked  those  to  rise  who  were  descended  from  it, 
and  then  requested  one  of  their  number  to  make  remarks. 
The  proceedings  under  this  topic  are  given  on  pages  57-59. 
It  was  found  that  14  of  those  present  were  descended  from 
Hannah,  14  from  Abigail,  27  from  Mary,  48  from  John, 
5  from  Samuel,  28  from  Caleb,  and  3  from  Elizabeth. 

The  chairman  reported  that  the  records  thus  far  avail- 


PROCEEDINGS  23 

able  indicated  that  Nathaniel  Merriman  had  63  grand- 
children, and  that  the  number  of  his  great-grandchildren 
was  at  least  346  of  whom  57  were  through  Hannah,  73 
through  Abigail,  87  through  Mary,  40  through  John,  20 
through  Samuel,  39  through  Caleb,  and  30  through  Elizabeth. 
He  estimated  that  the  number  of  Nathaniel's  descendants 
in  this  year  1913  was  about  40,000  of  whom  only  about 
2000  bear  the  name  of  Merriman. 

"The  Founders  of  Wallingford"  a  poem  by  Donald 
Lines  Jacobus  of  New  Haven,  Conn.,  tenth  in  descent 
from  Nathaniel  through  his  daughter  Abigail,  was  then 
very  effectively  read  by  Miss  Fannie  McKenzie  of  South- 
ington,  Conn.  This  poem  is  given  on  pages  60-63. 

A  recess  was  taken  from  12.45  to  2.30  to  afford  time  for 
luncheon  and  social  intercourse.  Most  of  those  present 
immediately  assembled  on  the  steps  of  St.  George's  Inn, 
next  door  to  the  library,  where  the  photograph  was  taken 
of  which  a  copy  appears  at  the  front  of  th's  volume. 

An  enjoyable  luncheon  was  served  at  one  o'clock  in  the 
dining  rooms  of  St.  George's  Inn,  at  which  112  descendants 
sat  down,  while  about  20  others  took  the  mid-day  meal 
with  relatives  in  Wallingford.  This  period  was  especially 
enjoyable  on  account  of  the  opportunity  afforded  for  making 
acquaintances  and  for  social  intercourse. 

During  the  recess  there  was  opportunity  for  descendants 
to  visit  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Ward  Streets 
where  the  house  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  once  stood,  and 
also  the  cemetery  where  his  remains  undoubtedly  lie, 
although  the  place  is  unmarked.  In  the  southeast  corner 


24  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

of  this  old  cemetery  there  are  nine  gravestones  of  Merrimans 
descended  from  his  son  John  and  near  the  central  part 
are  six  stones  of  Merrimans  descended  from  his  son  Samuel. 
There  are  no  stones  which  mark  the  resting  places  of  any 
of  the  children  of  Nathaniel  Merriman. 

Some  descendants  also  visited  the  town  hall  to  see  the 
old  record  book  of  1670-1692  which  is  mostly  devoted  to 
minutes  of  town  meetings.  In  this  book  there  are  54 
pages  in  the  handwriting  of  Nathaniel  Merriman,  who 
was  the  first  town  clerk  of  Wallingford. 

At  2.40  p.m.  the  meeting  was  reconvened  in  the  hall  of 
the  Public  Library. 

"Nathaniel  Merriman  in  Wallingford,  1670-1694"  was 
the  title  of  a  paper  which  was  then  read  by  its  author  Mans- 
field Merriman  of  New  York.  This  paper  is  given  in  full 
on  pages  64-69. 

Remarks  were  made  by  several  descendants  in  which 
surprise  was  expressed  at  the  civil  and  military  activity 
shown  by  Capt.  Nathaniel  after  the  age  of  sixty  in  his 
career  at  Wallingford. 

Joan,  the  widow  of  Nathaniel,  survived  him  by  fifteen 
years  and  died  Dec.  8,  1709,  aged  82  years.  Thaddeus 
Merriman  of  Essex  Fells,  N.  J.,  made  remarks  regarding 
the  longevity  of  early  settlers  in  colonial  days.  While 
this  in  part  was  to  be  attributed  to  their  active  life  in  the 
open  air,  yet  their  simple  food  was  doubtless  also  a  con- 
trolling factor.  In  those  good  old  times  the  valuable  part 
of  grain  was  not  removed  and  thrown  away,  as  in  these 
degenerate  days,  but  their  brown  bread  contained  all  the 
health-giving  ingredients.  Rev.  John  Merriman,  a  grand- 


PROCEEDINGS  26 

son  of  Nathaniel,  reached  the  age  of  93,  while  John  Moss, 
one  of  the  founders  of  Wallingford,  died  at  the  great  age 
of  103. 

"King  Philip's  war  of  1675  and  the  services  rendered 
therein  by  Nathaniel  Merriman  and  his  eldest  son"  was 
the  title  of  the  next  paper  which  was  read  by  i^s  author 
George  M.  Curtis  of  Meriden,  Conn.  This  paper  is  given 
on  pages  70-76. 

Remarks  were  made  by  several  descendants  on  the 
military  activities  of  Nathaniel.  His  service  in  the  Pequot 
war  and  in  the  New  Haven  train  band  had  given  him  an 
experience  which  highly  qualified  him  to  be  the  head  of 
the  Wallingford  company  and  to  be  appointed  as  a  Captain 
to  raise  a  troop  of  dragoons  for  King  Philip's  war.  In 
the  year  1644  the  Court  of  the  Colony  of  New  Haven 
ordered  "that  every  one  of  the  trayned  band  bring  their 
arms  to  the  meeting  on  every  Lord's  day."  At  sunset 
every  day  a  drum  was  beat,  and  an  hour  later  the  night 
guard  was  ready  with  arms  complete.  When  a  fire  was 
discovered  they  cried  "fire!  fire!";  when  Indians  were 
seen  they  cried  "arm!  arm!" 

The  question  as  to  whether  Nathaniel,  Jr.  left  a  widow 
and  children  to  mourn  his  death  in  King  Philip's  war 
must  now  be  decided  in  the  negative.  In  1677  a  town 
meeting  gave  authority  to  Capt.  Nathaniel  to  sell  the 
land  which  had  belonged  to  his  son,  and  this  could  not 
have  been  done  had  there  been  other  heirs. 

"The  Will  and  Estate  of  Nathaniel  Merriman"  was  the 
next  topic  which  was  discussed  by  two  lawyers,  Porter 
Lee  Merriman,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  E.  A.  Merriman  of 
Meriden,  Conn.,  extracts  from  both  will  and  inventory 


26  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

being  read.  It  was  the  opinion  of  these  speakers  that 
the  will,  which  was  undoubtedly  written  by  Nathaniel 
Merriman  himself,  showed  much  legal  knowledge  on  the 
part  of  a  layman.  The  will  is  given  on  pages  77-81  and 
the  inventory  on  pages  81-82. 

What  became  of  the  military  books  which,  according 
to  the  will,  were  equally  divided  among  his  sons  John, 
Samuel,  and  Caleb?  It  may  be  possible  that  one  or  more 
of  these  are  still  extant  stored  in  some  garret  among  ancient 
papers.  It  is  not  known  whether  these  were  printed  books 
on  military  tactics,  or  whether  they  were  manuscript  books 
written  from  time  to  time  by  Capt.  Nathaniel  himself; 
if  the  latter  be  the  case  their  discovery  at  the  present  day 
would  be  most  important  in  throwing  further  light  on  the 
history  of  his  life. 

"Reading  of  Letters  from  Descendants  who  were  unable 
to  be  present"  was  the  next  exercise.  These  letters,  or 
abstracts  of  them,  were  read  by  Mansfield  Merriman  to 
whom  they  had  been  addressed  as  Secretary  of  the  General 
Committee.  They  will  be  found  on  pages  83-91.  These 
letters  came  from  nineteen  different  states,  Michigan  tak- 
ing the  lead  with  six.  A  telegram  was  received  from  Can- 
ada and  another  from  Texas. 

"The  Collection  of  the  Genealogical  Records  of  the 
Merriman  family"  was  the  last  topic  on  the  program. 
This  took  the  form  of  a  discussion  in  which  Leonard  J. 
Merriman  of  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  M.  L.  Merriman  of 
Hornell,  N.  Y.,  James  Leigh  Merriman  of  Bolton,  Mass., 
and  others  participated. 

It  was  shown  in  this  discussion  that  there  are  certainly 
three  and  probably  four  branches  of  the  English  Merrimans 


PROCEEDINGS  27 

in  this  country:  (i)  the  descendants  of  Nathaniel  Merriman 
who  arrived  in  Boston  in  1632,  (2)  the  descendants  of 
Walter  Merryman  who  left  Ireland  and  settled  in  Maine 
about  1700,  (3)  the  descendants  of  William  Merriman 
and  his  brother  who  came  to  Baltimore  about  1740,  and 
(4)  the  descendants  of  people  named  Merrimon  who  settled- 
in  the  southern  states  somewhat  later.  In  all  these  branches 
the  name  is  now  quite  generally  spelled  Merriman.  A 
genealogy  of  the  descendants  of  Walter  Merryman  by  C. 
N.  Sinnett  was  published  in  1905.  The  third  branch, 
which  now  numbers  many  people  in  Indiana  and  Ohio 
has  for  several  years  held  biennial  reunions. 

It  was  agreed  by  all  present  that  measures  ought  to 
be  taken  to  collect  the  records  of  the  descendants  of 
Nathaniel  Merriman,  and  the  General  Committee  was 
requested  to  endeavor  that  this  be  done  as  far  as  possible. 


Business  matters  now  received  attention  by  the  meeting. 
The  Secretary  of  the  General  Committee  reported  that 
the  expenses  for  printing  and  postage  in  calling  this  meeting 
had  been  $42.50.  On  motion  a  collection  was  then  taken 
which  amounted  to  $67.50 

As  the  hall  of  the  Public  Library  had  been  given  free 
of  charge  for  this  meeting,  a  vote  of  thanks  was  then  passed 
to  the  directors  for  their  courtesy,  and  it  was  also  resolved 
to  make  a  donation  of  $20.00  to  be  used  by  the  library  in 
the  purchase  of  books. 

Votes  of  thanks  were  also  passed  to  the  local  committee 
which  had  arranged  the  luncheon,  to  the  young  ladies 
who  had  decorated  the  hall,  and  to  the  committee  of  ladies 
which  had  so  cordially  received  the  descendants  upon 
arrival. 


28  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

At  4.30  p.m.  the  meeting  adjourned,  all  present  joining 
hands  and  singing  "Auld  Lang  Syne." 


FINANCIAL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  REUNION 
Expenses: 

1913     March,    Circulars  printed $8.75 

May,       Printing  450  programs 17 . 75 

325  postal  cards 3 . 25 

Printing  postal  cards 6.25 

Postage  on  programs  and  cards 6 . 50 

June  4,    Secretary's  cards  and  stationery o.  75 

Donation  to  Wallingford  Library 20 .  oo 

$63.25 
Receipts: 

June  4,    Collection  at  Reunion 67 . 50 


Balance  on  hand $425 


ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME 

BY  MRS.  WILLIAM  H.  GODDARD 
Seventh  in  Descent  from  Nathaniel  through  his  son  John 


Kinsmen  and  Friends:  There  is  a  quotation  which  runs 
something  like  this:  "There  may  be  and  there  often  is 
a  regard  for  ancestry  which  nourishes  a  weak  pride,  but 
there  is  also  a  moral  and  philosophical  respect  for  our 
ancestors  which  elevates  the  character  and  improves  the 
heart."  And  I  am  convinced  that  we  are  gathered  here 
to-day  moved  only  by  the  highest  motives,  that  we  may 
together  review  and  somewhat  appreciate  the  sterling 
character  and  achievements  of  our  common  ancestor, 
Nathaniel  Merriman. 

And  I  deem  it  a  high  privilege  to  welcome  you  to  this 
historic  old  town  of  Wallingford,  founded  by  your  forbears 
and  mine.  It  is  fitting  that  we  should  to-day  pause  in 
our  eager  and  busy  lives  that  we  may  call  to  mind  their 
brave  deeds,  their  unflinching  courage  in  the  face  of  mani- 
fold dangers  and  the  high  hearted  way  in  which  even  the 
common  duties  of  life  were  discharged  by  them.  This 
is  one  of  those  anniversaries  only  possible  in  a  few  towns 
of  our  country. 

The  earliest  date  in  our  town  records  reminds  us  of  the 
fact  that  this  pioneer  band  of  valient  and  stout-hearted 
men  and  women  settled  here  in  November,  1669.  Besides 
Wallingford  with  its  wealth  of  years  the  United  States 

29 


30  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

seems  only  the  creature  of  yesterday.  Wallingford  had 
been  settled  more  than  one  hundred  years  when  the  scattered 
commonwealths  on  the  Atlantic  coast  were  organized  into 
the  central  government  which  we  now  call  the  United 
States. 

As  we  sit  here  together  and  talk  of  the  days  that  were, 
may  goodly  fellowship  abound.  May  you  realize  fully 
what  depth  of  meaning  there  may  be  in  the  words,  "The 
Return  of  the  Native."  May  it  not  require  much  imagina- 
tion to  see  the  lofty  elms  of  our  streets  reaching  out  to  you 
leafy  arms  in  token  of  welcome  and  greeting.  And  surely 
even  the  whispering  breezes  will  salute  you  in  friendly 
fashion  as  they  pass. 

One  of  the  words  which  we  have  been  seeing  in  print 
more  and  more  frequently  in  recent  years  is  the  word 
"Eugenics."  Some  of  us  it  has  sent  to  the  dictionary  before 
this.  The  science  of  being  well  born  is  assuming  great 
importance  to-day  and  thus  it  is  seemly  that  we  are  met 
here  to-day  to  honor  the  memory  of  our  common  ancestor 
Nathaniel  Merriman.  It  reminds  us  of  our  old  world 
origin,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  moment  to  us  all  that  this 
ancestor  300  years  back  is  well  authenticated  in  Connecticut 
history  as  associated  with  other  brave  men  in  defense  of 
his  country,  and  that  he  was  at  all  times  an  enterprising 
man  of  affairs  in  the  community  where  he  lived  and  died. 
So  that  when  we  speak  of  this  man  Nathaniel  Merriman 
we  refer  to  no  mythological  personage,  but  of  one  who 
helped  to  blaze  the  way  in  a  new,  crude,  bleak  land,  one 
with  red  blood  in  his  veins,  who  did  all  things  well  and 
made  good.  All  honor  to  his  memory. 

Now  although  in  a  gathering  of  this  kind  it  is  permitted 
to  refer  to  our  Puritan  ancestry,  and  the  rich  inheritance 
which  has  come  to  us  as  descendants  of  these  God  fearing 


PROCEEDINGS  31 

men,  yet  there  are  some  diverse  opinions  even  about  this 
matter,  and  I  consider  it  a  scandalous  reflection  upon  the 
men  of  these  early  days  to  say  as  some  have  done,  that 
not  the  least  of  the  trials  and  hardships  borne  by  our 
grandmothers  was  due  to  the  fact  that  they  had  to  endure 
the  Puritan  fathers. 

But  I  must  admit  that  the  summary  way  in  which 
Nathaniel  Merriman  in  his  will  disposes  of  the  feather 
bed  would  not  be  at  all  satisfactory  to  the  modern  woman. 
Very  likely  the  wife  had  raised  the  geese,  plucked  and 
prepared  the  feathers  and  made  the  bed,  and  yet  apparently 
it  was  not  hers  to  dispose  of.  But  doubtless  this  matter 
will  be  fully  explained  later  in  the  day. 

Now  in  these  days  of  "Eugenics"  the  statistician  is 
busy  with  many  matters  not  formerly  thought  of  importance, 
and  I  am  told  that  one  of  these  august  personages  has 
declared  that  all  of  his  researches  have  revealed  only  three 
instances  where  two  red  haired  people  have  married  each 
other.  Now  it  has  been  said  of  one  of  my  own  forbears  on 
the  Merriman  side  that  the  only  fact  of  which  we  are  sure 
is  that  the  lady  had  red  hair.  Perhaps  now  we  may  add 
to  this,  that  presumably  she  did  not  marry  a  husband 
with  the  same  auburn  tinted  hair  as  herself. 

Kinsmen  and  Merriman  descendants:  your  pilgrimage  to 
our  town  of  Wallingford,  is  a  notable  event  in  our  lives.  We 
hope  that  your  sojourn  with  us  may  be  profitable  to  you 
as  it  will  be  pleasant  and  stimulating  for  us.  The  doors  of 
our  hearts  and  homes  are  open  to  you.  And  in  closing 
allow  me  to  slightly  paraphrase  Shakespeare's  well  known 
lines,  "Come  kinsmen  all,  sit  by  my  side  and  let  the  world 
slip,  we  shall  ne'er  be  younger." 


THE  ANCESTRY  AND  PARENTAGE  OF 
NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN 

BY  GEORGE  B.  MERRIMAN 
Sixth  in  Descent  from  Nathaniel  through  his  son  Caleb 


The  Merrimans  of  London  and  their  kindred  scattered 
through  several  counties  of  England  are  descended  from 
two  brothers  who  lived  in  Newberry,  Berks  county.  Both 
died  in  1640,  and  both  left  wills.  Their  father,  tradition 
says,  lived  in  Oxford,  and  was  one  of  three  brothers,  one 
of  whom  went  to  the  north,  one  remained  in  the  old  home, 
and  the  third  came  to  London.  This  last  one,  for  aught 
we  know  to  the  contrary,  may  have  been  Nathaniel's 
grandfather.  I  do  not  think,  however,  even  if  he  was, 
that  his  name  was  Theophilus;  though  he  may  have  been 
a  contemporary  of  that  Theophilus  who,  Mr.  Adams  says 
in  his  history,  was  the  grandfather  of  Nathaniel. 

Some  of  the  Merrimans  in  England  have  been  knighted, 
some  have  been  made  bishops;  one  as  early  as  1569,  some 
have  become  generals,  and  one  is  the  Premier  of  Cape 
Colony.  He  is  the  son  of  a  bishop.  And  I  found  that 
as  far  back  as  1423,  a  John  or  Jehan,  Meriman  was  one 
of  the  Archers  in  the  service  of  King  Henry  VI.* 

When  I  was  in  England  in  the  autumn  of  1911,  I  believed 

*  I  have  just  learned  from  a  London  correspondent  that  he  has 
found  mention  of  the  name  made  in  1377  at  Banstead  in  Surrey. 

32 


ANCESTRY  OF  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  33 

that  if  Theophilus  was  not  the  name  of  Nathaniel's  father 
it  must  have  been  the  name  of  his  grandfather,  and  J 
directed  my  search  accordingly.  While  I  had  seen  a 
statement  that  George  was  the  name  of  Nathaniel's  father 
I  did  not  know  upon  what  authority  it  was  based.  It  was 
while  looking  up  records  in  the  British  Museum  that  I 
found  there  an  American  book,  published  in  Boston,  which 
I  had  not  seen  before.  It  was  Waters'  Genealogical  Glean- 
ings in  England.  This  mentions  the  will  of  George  Merriman 
of  London,  made  in  1655,  in  which  the  first  bequest  was 
one  to  "my  son  Nathaniel  now  resident  in  New  England." 

This  shows  clearly  who  was  Nathaniel's  father.  But  the 
will,  which  I  read  later  at  the  Somerset  house,  where  such 
records  are  kept,  gives  no  clue  to  the  birth  or  parentage  of 
George  himself.*  It  is  a  common  thing  in  English  wills 
to  make  a  gift,  sometimes  very  small,  to  each  member  of 
the  family,  and  thus  we  frequently  obtain  considerable 
information  from  an  examination  of  old  wills.  We  have 
an  illustration  of  this  in  George's  will,  who  left  a  bequest 
not  only  to  Nathaniel,  but  to  each  of  his  other  two  chil- 
dren, Elizabeth  and  John,  and  also  a  conditional  one  of 
three  pounds  to  his  apprentice.  From  the  fact  that  his 
wife's  name  is  not  mentioned  we  may  be  quite  sure  that 

"The  will  was  executed  31  Oct.  1655  and  probated  19  May 
1656.  After  the  usual  preliminaries,  it  reads  as  follows:  "  I  do 
give  unto  my  son  Nathaniel  Merriman,  now  resident  in  New 
England,  the  sum  of  ten  pounds  of  lawful  English  money,  and 
unto  my  daughter  Elizabeth  Norman  whom  I  have  already 
advanced  in  marriage  with  Master  John  Norman,  I  give  twenty 
shillings  to  buy  her  a  ring  in  remembrance  of  my  love.  To  my 
servant  Henry  Allison  three  pounds  on  this  condition  that  he 
serve  out  the  remainder  of  his  time  of  apprenticeship  with  my 
son  John  Merriman.  The  residue  to  son  John  whom  I  do 
hereby  make  and  ordain  full  and  sole  executor." 


34  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

she  was  not  then  living.  If  George's  father  left  a  will, 
it  undoubtedly  mentions  his  name,  but  it  seems  probable 
that  he  did  not  make  one,  though  so  far  as  I  know,  a 
thorough  search  has  not  yet  been  made. 

It  is  possible  that  a  record  of  George's  birth  or  baptism 
and  also  that  of  Nathaniel's  may  be  found  in  one  of  the 
Parish  Registers  of  London,  but  as  not  all  are  published, 
and  even  those  published  are  not  all  indexed,  it  would  be 
no  small  undertaking  to  look  them  through.  As  George 
was  a  cooper,  I  found  that  the  Cooper  Company,  an  old 
guild  of  London,  have  his  name  on  their  register,  but 
nothing  more,  not  even  the  parish  or  precinct  in  which  he 
lived.  And  London  had  no  directory  in  those  days. 

While  in  London  I  wrote  to  a  number  of  Merrimans 
in  the  city  inquiring  if  they  knew  of  any  record  of  a  Theoph- 
ilus  Merriman  of  Wiltshire,  born  about  1533,  or  could  put 
me  on  track  of  any  information  about  him.  They  all 
directed  me  to  one  source,  Mr.  G.  F.  M.  Merriman,  an 
architect,  of  London,  who  had  made  a  special  study  of 
the  family  genealogy.  Upon  meeting  him  by  appointment 
I  found  that  he  had  ten  or  more  MS  volumes  of  notes  and 
references,  including  a  list  of  all  the  Merriman  wills  as 
far  back  as  1383.  But  none  by  Theophilus  of  the  i6th 
century,  and  none  so  far  as  he  knew,  by  any  immediate 
ancestor  of  George.  Data  so  far  back  as  that  were  not 
plentiful,  and  facts  to  show  any  connecting  links  between 
them  and  our  ancestor  George  were  wanting. 

The  earliest  ancestors  of  which  he  had  any  distinct  record, 
were  contemporaries  of  George  the  father  of  Nathaniel. 
It  was  his  suggestion  that  the  traditional  brother  who 
came  from  Oxford  to  London  in  the  i6th  century,  might 
have  been  the  father  of  George.  The  location  and  period 
of  time  fit  well,  as  George  was  born  not  far  from  1580,  but 


ANCESTRY  OF  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  35 

all  else  at  present  is  mere  conjecture.  As  history  records 
the  Merriman  name  at  least  two  hundred  years  earlier 
than  this,  the  connection  with  the  more  ancient  line  must 
be  sought  by  some  other  means  or  perhaps  through  some 
other  branch. 

Burke's  Visitation  of  Arms,  vol.  2,  p.  34,  gives  the  armorial 
bearings  of  the  late  Sir  Samuel  Merriman,  M.D.  which 
were  duly  registered  to  all  the  descendants  of  his  grand- 
father, Nathaniel  Merriman — not  our  Nathaniel,  mark  you, 
but  the  one  born  1780,  in  Marlborough,  Wiltshire,  and  whose 
three  sone  were  Benjamin,  Samuel  and  Nathaniel.  It 
seems  that  Nathaniel  Merriman  has  been  not  an  uncommon 
name  in  England  as  well  as  in  America.  This  Nathaniel 
of  Marlborough  was  of  the  Oxford  branch  with  those  in 
London  to  whom  I  have  referred.  Undoubtedly  there  are 
other  branches  of  the  family  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland 
which  would  require  to  be  traced  much  further  back  before 
finding  the  common  stock  in  which  all  unite,  or  what  is 
perhaps  possible,  they  may  not  all  have  a  common  origin. 

There  are  several  Merriman  lines  in  this  country  which 
have  different  American  origins.  One  of  these  who  generally 
spell  their  name  with  a  "y"  and  first  settled  in  Maryland 
about  1650,  came  from  the  county  of  Hereford  in  England, 
and  received  their  first  title  deeds  from  Lord  Baltimore. 
Another  branch  who  claim  a  different  origin  first  settled 
in  or  near  Baltimore  about  1750,  a  full  century  later.  Still 
another  line  is  descended  from  a  Walter  Merryman  who 
was  kidnapped  at  an  Irish  port  and  brought  to  Boston  in 
1700  and  afterwards  settled  in  Harpswell,  Maine.  Some  of 
his  descendants  claim  that  Walter's  ancestors  were  Scotch, 
others  say  they  were  English.  The  members  of  this  line 
originally  spelled  their  name  with  a  "y"  but  with  many 


36  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

of  them  now  the  "y"  has  become  changed  to  an  "i." 
Another  variation  in  the  spelling  of  the  family  name,  which 
I  have  seen  in  some  old  English  records,  is  the  change  of 
the  first  vowel  to  an  "a" — Marriman. 

It  is  probable  that  Nathaniel  was  born  in  London.  At 
that  time  a  boy  in  the  middle  class  of  life  was  quite  fortunate 
if  he  were  taught  the  bare  rudiments  of  an  education.  We 
know  that  Nathaniel  had  this  much,  which  he  probably 
gained  in  a  private  or  perhaps  a  parish  school.  But  he 
learned  far  more  in  the  school  of  experience  as  did  all  of  his 
peers  at  that  time.  Books  were  scarce  then  and  seldom 
owned  except  by  those  in  good  circumstances.  In  some 
of  the  parish  churches  there  was  a  Bible  chained  to  the 
pulpit  which  was  read  daily  to  all  who  would  come  and 
listen.  The  King  James  version  was  just  beginning  to  take 
the  place  of  the  older  translations,  and  those  who  came 
listened  eagerly.  No  doubt  Nathaniel  with  his  parents 
heard  it  read  on  Sundays,  and  perhaps  occasionally  on 
week  days. 

The  sports  and  diversions  in  which  Nathaniel  engaged 
when  a  boy,  were  mostly  such  as  boys  always  enjoy  even 
to  this  day.  And  one  which  he  witnessed  with  lively 
interest  was  the  novel  Punch  and  Judy  show  which  had 
been  introduced  in  the  streets  of  London  only  a  few 
years  previously. 

But  we  may  safely  assume  that  as  soon  as  Nathaniel 
was  old  enough,  he  was  put  to  work  in  his  father's  cooper 
shop  and  learned  something  of  that  useful  trade.  He  did 
not  aspire,  however,  to  follow  his  father's  occupation  for 
a  livelihood.  He  was  content  to  leave  that  for  his  younger 
brother  John,  while  he,  preferring  a  free  country  life, 
decided  before  he  became  of  age,  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the 


ANCESTRY  OF  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  37 

new  world.  If  1613  was  the  year  of  Nathaniel's  birth 
he  was  only  nineteen  when  he  bade  farewell  to  parents, 
home  and  friends,  and  set  out  on  a  two  months'  voyage 
for  a  far  distant  and  little  known  country.  How  he  served 
and  wrought  and  succeeded,  will  be  told  you  by  those 
who  follow. 


THE  PURITAN  PLOUGH  COMPANY  OF  1630,  THE 

VOYAGE    OF    NATHANIEL    MERRIMAN   TO 

BOSTON  IN  1632,   AND   HIS   PROBABLE 

WHEREABOUTS  IN  NEW  ENGLAND 

PRIOR  TO  1640 

BY  ROGER  B.  MERRIMAN 
Eighth  in  Descent  from  Nathaniel  through  his  son  Caleb 


The  story  of  the  events  that  led  our  common  ancestor 
to  leave  his  native  land  and  emigrate  to  New  England 
is  inseparably  bound  up  with  the  history  of  that  some- 
what mysterious  and  eminently  unsuccessful  venture,  the 
Puritan  Plough  Company,  or  Company  of  Husbandmen 
of  1630.*  Of  its  origin  and  distinguishing  features  we  know 
nothing,  though  it  is  easy  to  surmise  much.  The  word 
"husbandmen"  may  well  have  been  scriptural  in  its  allusion; 
certainly  what  we  know  of  the  members  of  the  organization 
would  indicate  that  they  were  rather  artisans  and  trades- 
men than  agriculturalists.  With  all  due  allowances  for  the 
literary  and  orthographical  vagaries  of  the  period,  the 
spelling  and  style  of  the  two  letters  written  by  members 
of  the  organization,  which  we  now  possess,  indicate  that 
the  " husbandmen"  were  for  the  most  part  plain  people, 

*  Cf.  V.  C.  Sanborn  in  the  Genealogist   XIX,  270-84;  and 
M.  H.  S.  Collections,  Set.  Iv.  Vol.  vii,  pp.  88-96. 

38 


THE  PURITAN  PLOUGH  COMPANY  39 

and  not  exceptionally  well  educated.*  Most  interesting 
of  all  is  the  question  of  their  religious  affiliations  and  pre- 
dilections. Stephen  Bachiler,  their  chosen  pastor,  was  a 
sturdy  Puritan  and  friend  of  Winthrop;  and  yet  we  learn 
that  within  four  months  of  his  arrival  at  Boston  he  was 
"required  to  forbear  exercising  his  gifts  as  a  pastor  or  teacher 
publicly  in  our  patent,  unless  it  be  to  those  that  he  brought 
with  him,  for  his  contempt  of  authority,  and  till  some 
scandals  be  removed,"  and  this  prohibition  was  not  revoked 
till  five  months  later. f  His  kinsman  Richard  Dummer, 
wealthy  and  obviously  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of 
the  company,  was  a  noted  friend  and  adherent  of  the 
Antinomian  leader  Wheelwright,  who  was  banished  from 
Massachusetts,  because  of  his  unorthodox  opinions  in 
November,  1637.!  Winthrop,  moreover,  speaks  of  at  least 
a  part  of  the  members  of  the  Plough  Company  as  "Fam- 
ilists"§  obviously  a  term  of  no  eulogistic  flavor.  It  may 
not  have  implied  everything  that  membership  in  the  German 
sect  generally  known  as  the  "Family  of  Love"  would 
connote;  but  it  obviously  indicated  a  more  considerable 
measure  of  religious  irregularity  than  was  pleasing  to  the 
Puritans  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

The  members  of  the  Plough  Company  applied  to  the 
Council  of  Plymouth  for  a  grant  of  land  in  New  England; 
and  on  June  26,  1630,  received  from  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges, 
who  represented  it,  a  patent  to  an  extensive  piece  of  ter- 
ritory lying  at  the  mouth  of  the  River  Sagadahoc,  and  com- 

*  M.H.S.  Collections,  Ser.  IV,  Vol.  vii,  91  ff. 

t  Records  of  Mass.  Col.  (Oct.  3,  1632,  and  Mar.  4,  1632/3) 
Vol.  i,  pp.  100  and  103. 

J  J.  A.  Doyle,  English  Colonies  in  America  I,  132,  136. 

§  Winthrop  Hist,  of  N.  E.  (ed.  Savage,  1853)  I,  69  (Under 
date  of  6  July  1631). 


40  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

prising  roughly  what  is  now  the  Southern  portion  of  the 
state  of  Maine.*  A  preliminary  expedition,  of  ten  members 
of  the  Company,  of  whom  the  most  prominent  was  a 
certain  Mr.  John  Crisp,  f  was  sent  out  in  the  Spring  of  1631, 
to  inspect  the  new  grant,  in  a  ship  called  "the  Plough;" 
apparently  they  were  dissatisfied  with  what  they  saw, 
and  finally  brought  up  at  Boston,  July  6,  1631.  These 
facts  are  recorded  in  Winthrop's  History  of  New  England 
(under  date  of  July  6,  1631)  in  the  following  words:  "A 
small  ship  of  60  tons  arrived  at  Natascott,  Mr.  Graves, 
Master.  She  brought  ten  passengers  from  London.  They 
came  with  a  patent  to  Sagadahoc,  but,  not  liking  the  place, 
they  came  hither.  Their  ship  drew  ten  feet,  and  went 
up  to  Watertown,  but  she  ran  on  ground  twice  by  the 
way.  These  were  the  company  called  the  husbandmen, 
and  their  ship  called  the  'Plough'."!  Under  date  of 
August  19  following,  Winthrop  tells  us  that  "The  Plough 
returned  to  Charlestown  after  she  had  been  on  her  way 
to  the  Christopher  Islands  (St.  Kitts  in  the  West  Indies) 
about  three  weeks,  and  was  so  broke  she  could  not  return 
home."  §  Whether  or  not  the  ten  members  of  the  Plough 
Company  had  gone  with  her  on  this  last  voyage,  does  not 
appear.  Whatever  the  case  it  is  certain  that  they  were 
left  stranded  in  Boston,  without  resources,  in  August,  1631. 
The  following  record  of  the  Massachusetts  Court  of  Assistants 
under  date  of  Oct.  18,  1631,  would  seem  to  indicate  that 
the  first  body  of  emigrants  by  the  "Plough"  were  in  con- 
siderable financial  straits.  "It  is  ordered  that  there  shall 
be  taken  out  of  the  estate  of  Mr.  Crisp  and  his  company, 
the  sum  of  £12,  i  sh.  and  5  d.,  and  delivered  to  John 

*  Genealogist,  XIX,  272. 

t  M.H.S.  Collections,  Ser.  4,  Vol.  VII,  p.  91. 

t  Winthrop,  i ,  69.     §  Ibid,  1, 1 2. 


THE  PURITAN  PLOUGH  COMPANY  41 

Kirman,  as  his  proper  goods;  and  after,  the  whole  estate 
to  be  inventoried,  whereof  the  said  John  Kirman  is  to 
have  an  8th  part."  * 

Whether  or  not  the  majority  of  the  members  of  com- 
pany of  husbandmen  who  had  remained  behind  in  England 
had  heard  of  the  hard  fate  of  their  brethren  of  the  ship 
"  Plough,"  we  cannot  tell;  at  any  rate  they  were  determined 
to  persist  in  their  enterprise  and  sent  over  other  mem- 
bers of  their  company  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1632. 
The  ship  "  Whale  "  which,  according  to  Winthrop,  arrived 
in  Boston  May  26,  bringing  about  30  passengers  and  70 
cows,  carried  five  members  of  the  Plough  Company,  and 
also  the  wife  and  daughter  of  John  Smith,  who  had  been 
one  of  Crisp's  party  of  the  year  before.  Of  these  five  mem- 
bers the  principal  person  was  unquestionably  Richard 
Dummer  (it  is  a  significant  fact  that  of  all  the  "  Plough  " 
people  in  that  ship's  company,  he  alone  has  a  "  Mr."  pre- 
fixed to  his  name) ;  while  the  last  was  our  common  ancestor, 
Nathaniel  Merriman,  at  that  time  a  youth  of  about  19.  He 
came,  so  it  would  seem,  not  on  his  own  resources,  but  "  upon 
the  adventure  of  Peter  Wooster  being  now  made  up  to 
ten  pounds."  It  is  gratifying  to  note  that  the  ship  "  Whale  " 
which  brought  him,  and  sailed  from  Hampton  April  8, 
1632,  made  what  would  then  have  been  regarded  as  a 
"  good  passage  "  (one  day  less  than  seven  weeks). 

The  "  William  and  Frances,"  which  brought  another 
party  of  the  Plough  Company  under  the  leadership  of 
Bachiler,  sailed  from  London  March  9  and  did  not  reach 
Boston  till  June  5-f 

The  miseries  of  the  members  of  the  company  in  New 
England  seem  to  have  been  enhanced  rather  than  diminished 

*  Records  of  Mass.  Col.,  Vol.  I,  p.  92. 

t  Winthrop,  I,  92,  93.     Mass.  H.  S.  Coll.,  4,  Ser.,  vii,  92. 


42  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

after  the  arrival  of  the  "  Whale  "  and  the  "  William  and 
Frances."  No  effort,  apparently,  was  made  to  colonize 
or  develop  the  land  at  Sagadahoc;  the  members  of  the 
company  remained  for  the  time  being  in  or  near  Boston. 
Financially  things  went  from  bad  to  worse.  Dummer 
apparently  insisted  on  seizing  and  retaining  in  his  own 
hands  most  of  the  funds  of  the  company;  so  that  Crisp, 
the  members  of  whose  original  expedition  suffered  most 
severely  from  his  acquisitiveness,  went  back  to  England  in 
the  summer  of  1632  to  complain  of  him.*  The  records  of 
the  Court  of  Assistants  contain  several  orders  for  the 
inventorying  and  preservation  of  the  goods  of  the  company, 
for  the  paying  of  just  debts  out  of  the  estate,  for  the  binding 
over  of  some  of  its  members  "  to  keep  the  peace  and  not 
depart  out  of  this  patent  without  leave,"  and  for  the 
apprenticing  of  one  of  the  youngest  of  its  number  for  a 
period  of  five  years,  in  return  for  board  and  lodging  and 
10  sh.f  Clearly,  by  1635,  the  Company  was  in  a  condition 
of  insolvency,  and  its  individual  members,  in  so  far  as  they 
were  not  dispersed,  remained  a  not  entirely  welcome  burden 
on  the  Massachusetts  community.  Religious  differences 
with  the  Puritans  of  the  Bay  doubtless  also  contributed 
greatly  to  increase  the  hardness  of  their  lot.  If  we  may 
judge  from  the  experiences  of  Dummer,  who  was  "  dis- 
armed "  on  20  Nov.  1637  by  order  of  the  Court  of  Assist- 
ants, for  his  heretical  opinions,  J  from  the  temporary  inhibi- 
tion of  Bachiler  in  1632-3,  and  from  the  statement  of 
Winthrop  that  some  of  those  who  came  over  were  "  f ami- 
lists,"  we  may  infer  that  most  of  them  took  the  Antinomian 
side  of  the  great  controversy  of  1636-7,  and  doubtless 

*  M.H.S.  Coll.,  ibid,  94-6. 

t  Records  of  Col.  of  Mass.,  I,  96,  98,  143. 

t  Mass.  Colony  Records,  I,  211-12. 


THE  PURITAN  PLOUGH  COMPANY  43 

suffered  as  a  result.  But  neither  the  subsequent  history 
of  the  members  of  the  company  (with  the  exception  of  our 
common  ancestor)  nor  the  fate  of  the  Plough  Patent,  and 
the  territory  which  it  granted  to  the  patentees,  concerns 
us  further  here.*  Our  task  is  rather,  to  bridge  the  gap 
in  the  life  of  Nathaniel  Merriman,  intervening  between 
his  arrival  in  Boston  on  the  ship  "  Whale,"  May  26,  1632, 
and  his  arrival  in  the  colony  of  New  Haven,  sometime 
certainly  not  later  than  17  March  1641.!  During  that 
long  interval  we  know  but  one  fact  about  him — namely 
that  he  fought  in  the  Pequot  war  (this  information  is 
derived  from  a  grant  of  land  made  in  1698  to  his  son  John 
in  recognition  of  his  father's  services). J  The  rest  can  be 
no  more  at  best  than  the  balancing  of  different  hypotheses 
against  one  another. 

First  comes  the  question  as  to  his  participation  in  the 
Pequot  war,  fought  against  the  Indians  of  the  Connecticut 
River  valley,  in  the  spring  of  1637,  largely  by  men  who 
had  emigrated  from  Massachusetts  in  the  spring  of  1636 
and  established  the  settlements  of  Hartford,  Windsor,  and 
Wethersfield,  though  they  were  aided  by  a  detachment  of 
"  20  lusty  men  "  sent  out  directly  from  Massachusetts 
early  in  1637  to  reinforce  the  garrison  at  Saybrook.§  Did 
Nathaniel  Merriman  participate  in  the  war  as  one  of  the 
Connecticut  men;  or  was  he  one  of  the  smaller  band  of  20 

*  The  patent  was  sold  in  1643  to  a  Parliamentary  soldier  by 
name  Alexander  Rigby;  the  name  of  the  territory  was  changed 
to  the  "Province  of  Lygonia";  Rigby's  deputy  George  Cleave 
attempted  to  develop  it,  but  litigation  as  to  boundaries  arose, 
and  the  Plough  patent  finally  disappears  from  history  with  the 
merging  of  Maine  in  Massachusetts  in  1691.  Cf.  Sanborn  in 
Genealogist,  xix,  280-1,  and  Doyle  i,  302  ff. 

t  Records,  Colony,  New  Haven,  I,  50-  t  Records,  Colony, 
Conn.,  IV,  276.  §  Doyle  1, 159,  170. 


44  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

from  Massachusetts?*  It  is  impossible  to  give  a  definite 
answer  to  this  question;  but  there  is  much  to  be  said  in 
favor  of  the  hypothesis  that  he  was  one  of  the  20  who  came 
out  direct  from  Massachusetts.  In  the  first  place  it  is 
clear  that  no  trustworthy  documentary  evidence  has  yet 
been  found  assigning  him  to  any  of  the  Connecticut  townsjf 
and  the  fact  that  of  the  36  Pequot  soldiers  who  subsequently 
received  land  grants  from  the  government  of  Connecticut, 
he  and  one  other  are  the  only  ones  not  known  to  have  been 
resident  in  that  colony  in  1637,!  may  be  used  as  a  point 
for  one  side  as  well  as  for  the  other.  It  is  certainly  quite 
as  reasonable  to  argue  that  his  name  would  have  appeared 
on  the  official  records  if  he  really  was  in  residence  there, 
as  it  is  to  assume  that  if  34  of  the  36  Pequot  grantees  were 
resident  in  Connecticut  in  1637,  the  other  two  must  have 
been  likewise.  Moreover  a  young  man  of  24,  presumably 
at  that  time  unmarried,  would  have  been  just  the  sort  of  a 
person  likely  to  be  despatched  with  the  "  20  lusty  men  " 
from  Massachusetts.  And,  finally,  if  he  had  been  regularly 
established  as  a  resident  of  Connecticut  at  the  time  of  the 
Pequot  war,  why  should  he  not  have  stayed  there,  instead 
of  moving  on  to  New  Haven  (a  separate  colony)  where  we 
know  he  appeared  before  March  17,  1641? 

*It  is  of  course  just  possible  that  Nathaniel  Merriman  was 
one  of  the  body  of  100  men  tardily  sent  out  by  Massachusetts 
in  late  June  1637,  to  help  put  the  finishing  touches  on  the  work 
which  John  Mason  had  practically  completed  the  month  before; 
but  this  seems  very  unlikely,  because  the  difficulty  of  the  final 
operations  of  the  war  would  scarcely  have  seemed  great  enough 
to  justify  the  subsequent  grant  of  land  to  Nathaniel  Merriman's 
son. 

t  Stiles,  Hist,  of  Ancient  Wethersfield,  I,  72n  seems  entirely 
justified  in  his  strictures  upon  the  Memorial  History  of  the 
County  of  Hartford,  Vol.  I,  p.  50. 

|  J.  Shepard,  John  Hall  of  Wallingford,  p.  5. 


THE  PURITAN  PLOUGH  COMPANY  45 

And  this  leads  us  to  the  second  question:  How  and  why 
did  he  migrate  to  New  Haven?  It  is  of  course  possible, 
if  he  was  really  a  resident  of  Connecticut  in  1637,  that  he 
simply  moved  there,  soon  after  the  colony  was  established 
by  the  "  Fundamental  Agreement  "  of  June  4,  1639.  But 
on  the  other  hand  it  should  be  remembered  that  New  Haven 
was  settled,  through,  if  not  from,  Massachusetts,*  where 
John  Davenport  and  Theophilus  Eaton  landed  in  the 
"  Hector  "  June  26,  1637,  to  find  the  colony  in  the  very 
agony  of  the  Antinomian  contest,  and  not  yet  relieved 
from  the  terror  of  the  Pequot  war.f  In  addition  to  the 
settlers  they  brought  with  them,  it  is  clear  that  when  they 
finally  departed  for  New  Haven  in  March  1638  they  took 
a  number  of  Massachusetts  men  along  also.J  There  is 
good  reason  for  thinking  that  our  common  ancestor  was 
one  of  these.  In  the  first  place  we  may  well  believe  that 
one  who  like  himself,  had  been  closely  associated  with 
Antinomians  found  Massachusetts  an  undesirable  place  of 
residence  after  the  close  of  the  famous  controversy.  On 
the  other  hand  the  government  of  New  Haven,  though 
citizenship  was  conditional  on  church  membership,  promised 
a  considerably  larger  measure  of  liberty  to  dissenters  than 
did  the  rule  of  the  Puritans  of  the  Bay.§  There  is  much 
to  be  said  for  the  theory  that  our  ancestor  migrated  from 
Boston  to  New  Haven  with  John  Davenport  and  Theo- 
philus Eaton  in  March  1638.  And  I  attribute  the  appear- 
ance of  his  name,  in  his  own  handwriting,  affixed  to  the 
"  fundamental  agreement  "  of  the  New  Haven  colonists, 
the  forty-second  of  forty-eight  names  which  follow  the 
names  of  the  63  settlers  whose  names  are  written  in  the 

*  Doyle,  1, 191. 

flbid,   192,   Winthrop,  I,   271-12.     %  Winthrop,    I,    311-12. 

§  Doyle,  I,  193,  ff. 


46  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

same  hand  as  the  agreement,  not  to  late  arrival,  but  to  the 
fact  that  he  was  not  at  that  time  probably  reckoned  as  a 
church  member  by  the  leaders  of  the  New  Haven  Colony, 
and  consequently  was  not  in  the  enjoyment  of  full  rights 
of  citizenship. 

I  must  reiterate,  in  conclusion,  that  much  of  this  is  neces- 
sarily supposition,  and  not  proven  fact.  But  I  can  honestly 
say  that  I  have  not  definitely  accepted  any  statement 
which  cannot  be  verified  in  contemporaneous  records. 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  NEW  HAVEN 
1640  TO  1670 

BY  Miss  ALICE  M.  MERRIMAN 
Seventh  in  Descent  from  Nathaniel  through  his  son  John 


In  attempting  a  sketch  of  our  ancestor  during  his  life 
in  New  Haven  from  1640  to  1670,  it  may  not  be  inappro- 
priate to  picture  briefly  the  conditions  under  which  he  was 
led  to  settle  here,  since  such  a  setting  can  perhaps  give  us 
a  glimpse  of  the  character  of  the  man. 

Religious  unrest  had  been  working  for  a  long  time  in 
England,  and  many,  rich  as  well  as  poor,  were  ready  to 
join  Rev.  John  Davenport,  ex-vicar  of  St.  Stephen's  churph, 
Coleman  Street,  London,  when  he  left  home  and  country 
and  arrived  in  Boston  in  June,  1637.  To  be  sure  we  hear 
most  of  the  prominent  ones,  Theophilus  Eaton,  afterwards 
governor  of  New  Haven  Colony,  and  others  of  his  station; 
and  while  it  is  known  that  our  ancestor  did  not  come  with 
this  company,  yet  he  must  have  left  England  only  a  few 
years  in  advance;  nevertheless  at  a  date  near  enough  for 
him  to  have  been  influenced  by  the  same  religious  ideas 
and  the  same  determination  to  come  to  a  new  country, 
wherein  those  ideas  and  convictions  might  have  full  sway. 
Davenport's  immediate  companions  came,  as  we  know, 
not  only  from  London  but  from  the  near-by  diocese  of 
Canterbury.  It  would  seem,  however,  that  our  forefather 
must  have  been  a  resident  of  London,  from  the  will  which 

47 


48  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

appears  indisputably  to  have  been  made  by  his  father 
George  Merriman,  a  citizen  and  cooper  of  London,  on 
October  31,  1655. 

Since  the  man  in  whose  honor  we  are  assembled  was 
the  only  Nathaniel  Merriman  living  in  New  England  in 
1655,  we  can  scarcely  doubt  that  he  was  the  son  referred  to 
in  that  will;  hence  it  is  not  impossible  that  he  may,  in  early 
life,  have  been  one  of  Davenport's  London  parishioners. 
This  fact  as  well  as  his  experience  in  the  Pequot  war,  and 
consequent  acquaintance  with  this  part  of  the  country, 
may  very  easily  have  led  to  his  decision  to  join  those  who 
had  begun  the  formation  of  a  colony  at  Quinnipiac. 

We  may  picture  to  ourselves  briefly  the  settlement  in 
1640 — in  that  year  first  called  New  Haven — when  our 
ancestor  perhaps  arrived  here.  East  and  West  Creeks, 
streams  long  since  forgotten,  were  then  navigable,  and  over 
the  former,  at  high  tide,  vessels  could  be  floated,  in  the 
bed  of  the  present  railroad  or  old  canal,  as  far  as  Chapel 
Street.*  Ahead  lay  a  plain  extending  inland  about  two 
miles,  at  which  distance  stood  basaltic  rocks  colored  with 
iron,  and  so  prominent  in  the  landscape  that  the  Dutch 
had  called  the  place  Rodenbergh  or  Red  Mount.  On 
the  west  of  this  plain  were  broad  salt  meadows,  bordering 
what  is  now  called  West  River,  and  extending  inland 
almost  to  West  Rock ;  on  the  east  side  were  still  more  exten- 
sive salt  meadows  spread  out  on  either  side  of  the  Quin- 
nipiac, or  East  River,  and  also  on  both  sides  of  a  stream 
flowing  into  it  a  short  distance  above  its  outlet,  the  present 
Mill  River.  The  meadows  on  the  Quinnipiac  extended  much 
further  to  the  north  than  those  on  West  River.  These 
salt  meadows,  extensive  and  rich  in  provender,  had  doubt- 

*  Atwater's  Hist,  of  New  Haven  Colony,  p.  70. 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  NEW  HAVEN         49 

less  greatly  influenced  the  company  in  selecting  this  place 
for  their  settlement. 

The  first  business  of  the  planters  had  been  to  lay  out  the 
town  in  nine  squares,  the  central  one  having  been  reserved 
as  the  market-place.  The  remaining  eight  squares  had  been 
divided  into  house-lots  and  assigned  to  the  planters  severally, 
in  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  family  and  also  to  the  amount 
which  each  planter  had  invested  in  the  enterprise,  the 
future  citizens  having  apparently  grouped  themselves 
according  to  personal  acquaintance  and  friendship  in  the 
mother  country.  In  January,  1640,  arrangements  were 
made  for  the  division  of  the  "  neck,"  that  is,  the  land 
between  Mill  and  Quinnipiac  Rivers,  the  salt  meadows, 
as  well  as  the  upland  of  the  center.  Every  "  free  planter  " 
had  some  land  in  the  "  neck,"  some  in  the  meadows,  and 
some  in  the  upland,  taxes  being  fixed  at  the  following  rates: 
all  the  upland  in  the  first  division,  with  all  the  meadows 
in  the  plantation,  was  taxed  at  4d.  per  acre  yearly;  all  the 
land  in  the  second  division,  that  is,  the  farm  land,  at  2d.* 

To  encourage  colonization,  thirty-two  of  the  company 
were  gratuitously  supplied  with  house-lots,  these  planters 
having  no  rights  of  commonage  and  being  drawn  by  lot. 
This  division  evidently  took  place  in  1641,  since  in  March 
of  that  year  we  find  our  ancestor  mentioned  as  third  in 
order  "  as  their  lotts  were  drawne,"f  and  he  received  a  small 
lot  on  what  is  now  East  Water  Street.  We  may  perhaps 
imagine  his  marriage  at  about  this  time,  although  no 
specific  record  of  it  has  thus  far  been  discovered.  Besides 
his  home  on  East  Water  Street,  we  may  also  locate  his  farm 
in  Fair  Haven,  since  in  1648  "  Nathaniel  Meriman  et  al. 
desire  to  have  their  land  on  ye  east  sid,  betwixt  the  red 

*  Atwater's  Hist  of  New  Haven  Colony,  p.  107. 
f  New  Haven  Colony  Records,  I,  p.  50. 


50  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

rocke  &  Mr.  Davenports  farme,"  and  on  November  2oth 
of  that  year  the  Court  ordered  that  this  land  should  be 
assigned  to  him.*  The  following  year  (March  10,  1649) 
he  and  four  others  asked  that  they  might  have  "  some 
land  and  meddowe  to  sett  vp  farmes  one  the  east  side,  next 
the  sea,  beyond  the  Cove  River,  "f  This  must  have  been 
in  the  vicinity  of  Morris  Cove.  The  farmers  already  settled 
near  by  objected  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  investi- 
gate. Two  months  later, t  the  petitioners  asked  the  Court 
for  a  decision  on  this  matter,  but  it  seems  to  have  been 
left  unsettled;  however,  at  about  this  time  he  received 
certain  "  meddow  "  and  farm  land,  which  he  was  to  divide 
with  Mathias  Hitchcock  and  Isaac  Whitehead.§ 

Although  a  church  service  was  strictly  observed  from  the 
first,  it  was  not  until  June  4,  1639,  that  a  meeting  was  held 
"  to  consult  about  settling  civil  government  according  to 
God,  and  about  the  nomination  of  persons  that  might  be 
found,  by  consent  of  all,  fittest  in  all  respects  for  the  founda- 
tion work  of  a  church."||  At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  that 
the  right  of  suffrage  should  be  conferred  on  church  members 
only.^f  There  are  sixty- three  signers  for  this  "  founda- 
mentall  agreement,"  and  in  the  last  paragraph  it  is  stated 
that  all  who  are  subsequently  received  as  planters  shall 
also  subscribe  to  the  same  conditions.  Below  the  names 
of  the  original  signers,  appear,  in  two  columns,  forty-eight 
others,  which  were  doubtless  placed  there  later  on;  and  here 
appears  for  the  first  time  the  name  of  Nath.  Merriman, 
also  that  of  Richard  Merriman.**  This  is  the  only  case 

*  New  Haven  Colony  Records,  I,  p.  415. 

t  Ibid,  I,  p.  446.     $  Ibid,  I,  p.  459.    §  Ibid,  I,  p.  94. 

||  Atwater's  Hist,  of  New  Haven  Colony,  p.  95. 

1  New  Haven  Colony  Records,  I,  p.  17. 

**  Photographic  reproduction  in  The  Munson  Record,  I,  p.  60. 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  NEW  HAVEN         51 

in  which  the  name  of  Richard  Merriman  occurs  in  the 
colonial  history  of  New  England,  which  gives  rise  to  the 
query  whether  the  name,  being  somewhat  illegible  in  the 
original,  may  not  really  be  that  of  someone  else. 

In  1644,  we  read  that  Nathaniel  Merriman  received  the 
oath  of  fidelity  at  the  General  Court  held  at  New  Haven 
on  the  ist  day  of  July.*  This  General  Court  was  the 
controlling  body  of  the  new  settlement,  and  the  fact  that 
our  ancestor  was  made  thus  early  one  of  its  members 
proves  him  to  have  been  a  citizen  "  in  good  and  regular 
standing,"  in  both  church  and  state,  as  well  as  a  man  of 
usefulness  in  the  community.  Further  extracts  from  the 
Records  confirm  the  latter  idea.  On  May  25th,  1646,  we 
read  that  "  Natha:  Merry  man  "  and  others  were  freed  from 
attending  the  Court  to  help  Mr.  Malbon  get  goods  ashore,  f 
Also  on  the  nth  of  June,  1649:  "  Mr.  Evanc  desired  lib- 
bertie  for  Thomas  Moris  &  Nathaniell  Merriman  to  depart 
ye  court,  to  goe  to  doe  a  little  worke  to  a  vessell  wch  laye 
loaden  &  was  ready  to  goe  awaye,  and  they  had  libbertie."J 
On  November  2Qth,  1649,  also,  Nathaniel  Merriman  and 
William  Russell  are  chosen  as  assessors  "in  ye  room  of 
Thomas  Munson  &  Francis  Browne. "§ 

We  may  judge  somewhat  of  Nathaniel's  social  position 
by  these  references,  as  well  as  from  allusions  to  himself 
and  his  wife  as  regards  their  seats  in  church.  A  young  man 
was  given  no  prefix  to  his  name  until  he  became  a  master 
workman;  then,  if  he  were  an  artisan  or  a  husbandman, 
as  we  have  seen  was  the  case  with  our  worthy  forebear, 
he  might  be  addressed  by  the  honorary  title  of  Goodman 
and  his  wife  might  be  called  Goodwife  or  Goody.  A  man 
who  employed  laborers  but  did  not  work  with  them  was 

*  New  Haven  Colony  Records,  I,  p.  138. 

t  Ibid,  I,  p.  242.     }  Ibid,  I,  p.  460.     §  Ibid,  I,  p.  502. 


52  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

distinguished  by  the  title  of  Mr.  This  latter  term  of 
respect  was  given  to  elders,  magistrates,  teachers,  merchants, 
and  men  of  wealth,  whether  engaged  in  merchandise  or 
living  in  retirement  from  trade.  Social  rank  was  strik- 
ingly manifested  in  the  "  seating  of  the  meeting-house." 
The  Governor  and  Deputy-Governor  were  given  the  front 
form  entire;  others  occupied  places  behind  them  according 
to  social  standing.  In  this  way  we  can  see  a  gradual  rise 
in  our  forefather's  position:  at  the  first  seating  his  name 
does  not  appear  at  all;  but  as  time  goes  on,  and  there  follow 
a  second  and  a  third  seating,  he  is  given  first  a  place  at  the 
side,  and  then  is  advanced  to  a  seat,  with  six  others,  in  the 
middle  "  alley  "  or  aisle;  while  his  wife,  known  first  as 
Goodwife  Merriman,  is  assigned  seat  No.  6  "  in  the  side 
seats  all  along,"  together  with  "  Goodwife  Barnes,  Jno. 
Benham's  wife  and  Edwa.  Camp's  wife."  This  was  on 
February  nth,  1655;  at  the  next  seating,  on  February  2oth, 
1 66 1,  we  find  "  Sister  Merriman  "  assigned  seat  No.  8 
"  in  the  long  seats  for  women,"  with  Goodwife  Mansfield, 
Goodwife  Hitchcock,  Goodwife  Harrison,  Sister  Barnes, 
and  John  Johnson's  wrife.* 

Doubtless  the  young  people  sat  in  the  gallery,  as  only 
the  heads  of  families  are  mentioned  in  the  seating. 

In  1653,  Nathaniel  sold  his  home  on  East  Water  Street 
to  "  ffrancis  Browne  "  "  and  all  his  lands  wch  belonged 
to  him  on  ye  east  side  against  Dragon  point,  "f  At  this 
time,  he  undoubtedly  went  to  live  on  his  farm.  Six  years 
later,  in  1659,  a  land-question  of  unusual  interest  and 
importance  arose  within  the  limits  of  the  town,  which  was 
not  settled  until  after  the  Revolution.  It  was  a  serious 

*  Atwater's  Hist,  of  New  Haven  Colony,  Appendix  IV,  p.  546,  ff. 
t  New  Haven  Proprietors'  Manuscript  Record,  II,  p.  140. 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  NEW  HAVEN        53 

difference  of  opinion  between  the  dwellers  in  the  New 
Haven  town-plot  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  outlying  farms 
who  wished  to  establish  villages  of  their  own.  Attendance 
at  church  was  of  course  rigorously  demanded  of  all;  but  at 
so  great  a  distance  as  Fair  Haven  or  East  Haven,  it  proved 
a  very  difficult  matter.  Hence  the  farmers  asked  the 
privilege  of  establishing  subordinate  villages,  having  their 
own  churches  and  constables,  so  as  to  have  the  essentials 
of  religious  and  civic  government  close  at  hand.  To  this 
the  dwellers  of  the  town  strenuously  objected  on  account 
of  the  loss  to  them  in  "  rates  "  or  taxes.  A  town  meeting 
was  called  at  which  the  boundaries  of  the  proposed  villages 
of  Fair  and  East  Haven  were  described,  and  the  conditions 
set  forth  that  the  villagers  should  pay  rates  as  did  other 
plantations;  also  that  every  landholder  in  the  village  should 
pay  rates  in  the  village,  even  if  not  a  resident.  Mr.  Daven- 
port was  by  far  the  largest  landholder  in  Fair  Haven,  but 
he  spoke  at  length  in  favor  of  the  petitioners,  making  the 
point  that  they  should  "  prevent  sin  in  the  farmes  "  and 
that  the  "  saboth  "  ought  to  be  sanctified,  but  with  the 
farmers  living  at  such  a  distance,  it  could  not  be  kept  as  a 
day  of  rest.  A  further  suggestion  was  that  the  children 
were  debarred  from  school  privileges. 

The  "  city  fathers  "  opposed  the  measures  of  the  farmers, 
as  has  happened  sometimes  since;  and  here  our  ancestor 
took  part  in  the  contention,  bringing  upon  himself  the 
criticism  from  Levermore  of  being  "  the  spiteful  man." 
It  seems  to  me,  however,  that  this  censure  is  a  bit  hard  on 
him,  since  there  was  certainly  perfect  fairness  in  his  point 
of  view;  and  from  some  characteristics  that  I  have  hap- 
pened to  observe  in  a  few  of  his  descendants,  I  can  venture 
to  say  that  his  complete  conviction  of  right,  combined 
with  his  vehemence  of  manner,  may  have  furnished  the 


54  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

ground  for  this  statement.  His  part  in  the  controversy 
is  thus  described  :* 

"  He  threw  a  firebrand  into  the  midst  by  saying  that  at 
the  first  there  were  many  of  them  looked  upon  as  men  to 
live  by  their  labor.  They  had  small  lots  given  them,  but 
when  '  the  Towne  for  their  support  gave  them  these  lots, 
it  was  upon  condition  that  they  should  inhabit  them.  And 
now  the  Towne  would  call  them  off  their  farmes.'  He  was 
answered  that  then  the  farmers  came  to  town  with  their 
families  on  the  last  day  of  the  week,  and  '  stayed  till  after 
the  Saboth,'  and  that  '  the  farmes  were  given  them  that 
corn  and  cattell  might  be  raised;  yet  now  they  need  corne 
from  the  towne.'  " 

Our  historian  leaves  us  in  the  dark  as  to  the  outcome 
of  this  special  meeting;  but  since  the  question  was  not 
decided  until  more  than  a  hundred  years  later,  of  course 
we  must  conclude  that  it  amounted  to  little  else  than  an 
expression  of  opinion — evidently  a  decided  one.  It  may 
quite  possibly  be  that  the  annoyance  thus  experienced 
had  its  bearing  on  his  subsequent  removal  to  help  found  the 
town  of  Wallingford,  although  ten  years  later  he  was  still 
a  "  freeman  in  the  town  of  New  Haven,"  and,  again,  after 
settling  in  Wallingford,  it  is  recorded  that  he  continued 
to  be  one  of  the  proprietors  of  New  Haven,  f  However, 
in  1669,  thirty-eight  men,  of  whom  Nathaniel's  name  is 
fourth  on  the  list,  signed  an  agreement  to  found  the  village 

ofWallingford4 

During  his  residence  in  New  Haven,  he  held  various 
public  positions.  The  close  proximity  of  the  Indians  made 
military  protection  necessary  from  the  first,  and  "  every 

*  Levermore's  Republic  of  New  Haven,  p.  no. 
f  Savage's  Genealogical  Dictionary,  III,  p.  200. 
I  Davis,  Hist,  of  Wallingford,  p.  78. 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  NEW  HAVEN         55 

male  from  sixteen  to  sixty  years  of  age  "  was  pressed  into 
service.  In  1642  the  total  number  thus  subject  to  military 
duty  was  217,  as  there  were  thirty-one  watches  of  seven 
men  each.  The  company  was  divided  into  four  squadrons, 
each  commanded  by  a  sergeant..  The  squadrons  were 
trained  in  succession,  one  on  each  Saturday,  with  a 
"  general  training  "  every  fifth  week  on  Monday  for  the 
whole  company.  We  find  that,  having  formerly  been  a 
sergeant  to  the  artillery  company,  on  May  Qth,  1662,  he  was 
chosen  ensign.*  In  1665  he  was  confirmed  as  the  first 
sergeant  of  the  train  band  f  (that  is,  military  company), 
and  in  January,  1666,  he  was  chosen  to  serve  on  the  jury.  J 

Two  or  three  months  later  we  note  a  real  estate  trans- 
action, in  that  he  bought  of  Isaac  Whitehead  "  all  his  part 
of  land  given  by  the  town;"§  and  he  also  sold  to  John 
Moss  "  half  the  foremen tioned  land  and  meadow  excepting 
the  homestead." 

To  go  back  a  few  years,  we  find  that  in  1660,  when  there 
arose  a  general  question  as  to  the  boundaries  between 
New  Haven  and  Connecticut  colonies,  which  later  assumed 
very  important  proportions,  it  is  stated  that  Nathaniel 
Merriman  and  others  "  with  the  help  of  Montowese,  an 
Indian,  ye  late  proprietor,  shall  set  out  the  bounds  with 
lasting  markes,  *  *  of  a  pcell  of  land  towards  Con- 
necticote."  ||  In  the  "Century  of  Meriden,"  the  early 
part  of  which  is  written  by  George  M.  Curtis,  one  of  his 
descendants,  we  find  this  picture:  "  As  soon  as  spring  has 
really  come,  we  may  in  fancy  see  these  men,  clad  in  leathern 

*  New  Haven  Proprietors  Manuscript  Records,  III,  p.  40. 
t  Public  Records  Colony  of  Connecticut,  II,  p.  112. 
J  New  Haven  Proprietors  Manuscript  Records,  III,  p.  79. 
§  Ibid,  p.  &2.^  ||  New    Haven   Colony   Records,  II,  p.    409, 
footnote. 


56  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

doublet  and  breeches,  accompanied  by  the  dusky  warrior 
Montowese,  striding  along  the  road  leading  to  '  Connecti- 
cote,'  crossing  the  bridge  lately  built  over  the  Quinnipiac, 
and  setting  their  faces  towards  the  north.  *  *  First, 
we  note  the  sturdy  form  of  Nathaniel  Merriman,  a  veteran 
of  the  Pequot  war  of  1636,  and  destined  later,  as  captain 
of  dragoons,  and  accompanied  by  his  son  Nathaniel,  Jr., 
to  play  his  part  in  the  great  swamp  fort  fight  of  King 
Philip's  war."  * 

As  regards  Nathaniel  Merriman's  children  born  in  New 
Haven,  records  seem  to  differ  somewhat.  On  the  New 
Haven  Register  of  Vital  Statistics,  they  are  given  as  follows: 

Births:  Hanah  dau.  of  Nathaniell,  May  16,  1651. 

Abigail  dau.  of  Nathaniell,  Apr.  18,  1654. 

Mary  dau.  of  Nathaniel,  July  12,  1657. 

John  son  of  Nathaniell,  Feb.  last,  1659. 

Samuell  son  of  Nathaniell,  Sept.  29,  1662. 

Caleb  son  of  Nathaniell,  May,  1665. 

Sons  of  Nathaniell  [among  records  of  1667]. 

Elizabeth  dau.  of  Nathaniell,  Sept.  14,  1669. 
Death:  John  son  of  Nathaniell,  Sept.  26,  1651. 

Of  these  we  find  baptisms  as  follows:  John,  Abigail,  and 
Mary,  all  on  June  27,  1661;  Caleb,  June  25,  1665.!  • 

*  Gillespie  and  Curtis:  A  Century  of  Meriden,  p.  n. 

fFrom  the  First  Church  Records,  transcribed  by  Henry 
White  in  1855,  and  published  in  the  New  England  Historical 
and  Genealogical  Register,  IX,  pp.  357-364. 


THE  CHILDREN  OF  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN 


The  Chairman  reported  that  325  programs  of  the  meeting 
and  325  return  postal  cards  had  been  sent  out,  and  that  142 
of  the  cards  had  been  received  in  reply.  The  last  line 
of  the  postal  card  was  "  I  am  descended  from  Nathaniel 
through  his  child  -  — ."  This  last  line  was  filled  out 
as  follows:  5  persons  were  not  decended  from  Nathaniel, 
25  did  not  know  through  which  child  they  were  descended, 
14  claimed  descent  through  Hannah,  15  through  Abigail, 
20  through  Mary,  39  through  John,  9  through  Samuel, 
28  through  Caleb,  and  3  through  Elizabeth.  Among  the 
137  descendants  who  replied  there  were  19  cases  of  double 
or  triple  descent  through  two  or  three  of  Nathaniel's 
children. 

The  Chairman  then  stated  that  the  eldest  child  of 
Nathaniel  Merriman,  also  named  Nathaniel,  was  probably 
born  about  1648.  At  the  age  of  about  27  he  went  forth 
in  King  Philip's  war  and  gave  his  life  in  defense  of  the 
Colonies  in  the  great  swamp  fort  fight  in  Rhode  Island  on 
December  19,  1675.  The  second  child,  who  was  named 
John,  died  in  infancy  in  1651. 

The  names  of  the  other  children  who  left  issue  were  then 
called  in  the  order  of  their  birth  with  a  brief  statement 
regarding  their  date  of  birth,  age  at  marriage,  name  of 
husband  or  wife,  and  number  of  children.  As  the  name 
of  each  was  called  the  chairman  requested  those  descended 

57 


58  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

from  that  child  to  rise  and  then  asked  one  of  their  number 
to  make  remarks. 

Hannah,  the  third  child,  was  born  in  1651.  At  the  age 
of  175  she  married  John  Ives  and  had  five  children:  John, 
Hannah,  Joseph,  Gideon,  and  Nathaniel.  After  the  death 
of  John  Ives,  she  married  Joseph  Benham  by  whom  she  had 
three  children:  Mary,  Joseph,  and  Abigail. 

Fourteen  persons  arose  who  were  descended  from  Hannah, 
and  remarks  were  made  by  Frederick  A.  Sutliffe  of  South- 
ington,  Conn. 

Abigail,  the  fourth  child,  was  born  in  1654.  At  the  age 
of  165  she  married  John  Hitchcock  and  had  eleven  children: 
a  daughter,  Samuel,  Abigail,  Mary,  Nathaniel,  Margery, 
John,  Mathias,  Hannah,  Damaris,  and  Benjamin. 

Fourteen  descendants  of  Abigail  arose.  Remarks  were 
made  by  George  R.  Johnson  of  Cheshire,  Conn. 

Mary,  the  fifth  child,  was  born  in  1657.  At  the  age  of 
17  she  married  Thomas  Curtis  and  had  twelve  children: 
Mary,  Nathaniel,  Samuel,  Elizabeth,  Hannah,  Thomas, 
Sarah,  Abigail,  Joseph,  Jemima,  Rebecca,  and  John. 

Twenty-seven  descendants  of  Mary  arose.  Remarks  were 
made  by  George  M.  Curtis  of  Meriden,  Conn. 

John,  the  sixth  child,  was  born  in  1660.  At  the  age  of 
23  he  married  Hannah  Lines  by  whom  he  had  three  children : 
Esther,  Abigail,  and  George.  At  the  age  of  30  he  married, 
for  his  second  wife,  Elizabeth  Peck  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children:  John,  Israel,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Caleb, 
and  Susannah. 

Forty-eight  descendants  of  John  arose.     Remarks  were 


CHILDREN  OF  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  59 

made  by  Mrs.  Jennie  Merriman  Buell  of  Terryville,  Conn., 
whose  father  Ebenezer  Merriman  was  fifth  in  descent  from 
John. 

Samuel,  the  seventh  child,  was  born  in  1662.  At  the 
age  of  24  he  married  Anna  Street,  daughter  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Street  of  Wallingford,  by  whom  he  had  four  children: 
Nathaniel,  Nathaniel,  Theophilus,  and  Samuel. 

Seven  descendants  of  Samuel  arose.  Remarks  were  made 
by  James  Lehigh  Merriman  of  Bolton,  Mass. 

Caleb,  the  eighth  child  was  born  in  1665.  At  the  age  of 
25  he  married  Mary  Preston  by  whom  he  had  eight  children: 
Moses,  Elizabeth,  Eliasaph,  Phebe,  Hannah,  Lydia,  and 
Lydia. 

Twenty-eight  descendants  of  Caleb  arose.  Remarks 
were  made  by  Henry  J.  Merriman  of  Southington,  Conn., 
who  said  that  while  he  was  sixth  in  descent  from  Nathaniel 
through  his  son  John,  he  was  also  proud  of  being  seventh 
in  descent,  on  his  mother's  side,  from  Caleb. 

The  ninth  birth  was  that  of  twin  sons  which  occurred  in 
1667.  No  names  are  given  to  them  in  the  New  Haven 
record,  and  it  is  hence  probable  that  they  died  soon  after 
birth. 

The  youngest  child  was  Elizabeth  who  was  born  in  1669. 
At  the  age  of  i6£  years  she  married  Ebenezer  Lewis  and  had 
ten  children:  Elizabeth,  Barnabas,  Hannah,  Benjamin, 
Malachi,  Agape,  and  Ebenezer. 

Three  descendants  of  Elizabeth  Lewis  arose.  Remarks 
were  made  by  Miss  Kate  A.  Prichard  of  Waterbury,  Conn., 
and  Miss  Susan  E.  Merriam  of  Branford,  Conn. 


THE  FOUNDERS  OF  WALLINGFORD 
WRITTEN  FOR  THE  MERRIMAN  TRICENTENNIAL  REUNION 

BY  DONALD  LINES  JACOBUS 

Tenth  in  Descent  from  Nathaniel  through  his 
daughter  Abigail 


Where  once  the  mighty  breakers  roared, 
The  sealess  sand-dunes  naked  lie; 
Beyond,  a  sweep  of  hills  and  sky 

That  guard  the  gates  of  Wallingford. 

Two  centuries  have  taken  flight 

And  now  a  third  is  on  the  wing, 
Since  that  first  balmy  day  of  Spring 

When  pioneers  gazed  on  the  site 

And  chose  to  make  the  wilderness 

Their  home.    What  transformation  then 
Took  place  in  forest,  field  and  fen; 

What  days  of  toil  and  weariness 

These  people  knew  and  yet  endured, 

That  here  a  pleasant  town  should  rise 
Beauteous  under  smiling  skies, 

Of  peace  and  plenty  well  assured. 


THE  FOUNDERS  OF  WALLINGFORD  61 

The  plough  prevails  where  fails  the  sword. 
Man's  toil  beneath  a  blazing  sun, 
And  work  of  woman,  bravely  done, 

'Twas  these  that  builded  Wallingford. 

II 

And  who  were  they,  whose  work  achieved 

The  conquest  of  the  wilderness? 

What  features  and  what  mode  of  dress 
Were  theirs,  and  what  the  lives  they  lived? 

Far  down  the  dim  receding  aisles 

Of  years  long  past  we  gaze  in  vain. 
The  scene  is  hazy,  nothing  plain; 

Vaguely  before  our  vision  files 

A  line  of  rugged  men,  some  old, 

Some  young;  dauntless  in  spirit,  all; 
Their  names  alone  we  may  recall, 

And  in  few  words  their  tale  is  told. 

Yet  here  was  many  an  august  name 

That  in  old  England  stood  for  worth, 
And  many  a  name  of  humbler  birth 

That  since  that  day  has  risen  to  fame. 

Among  them  Street,  whose  family  gave 

A  line  of  pastors  to  the  land; 

Curtis  and  Yale  were  of  the  band, 
Keen-eyed  Brockett  and  Munson  brave. 

And  here  was  Hall,  one  of  whose  stock 

Set  hand  to  the  great  Declaration 

That  made  America  a  nation; 
Moss,  whom  a  hundred  years  of  shock 


62  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

And  turmoil  could  not  quite  subdue; 

Preston  and  Ives  and  Royce  and  Beach. 

Their  names  ring  out  like  mighty  speech; 
Men  may  be  false,  but  names  ring  true. 

And  as  the  roll  of  names  we  scan, 

Far  down  the  moldy,  wrinkled  page, 
Faded  by  time  and  eaten  with  age, 

We  meet  the  name  of  Merriman. 

A  staunch  old  warrior,  stern  of  brow, 
He  was  not  deaf  when  duty  spoke, 
But  stooped  his  shoulder  to  the  yoke 

And  to  the  furrow  kept  the  plough. 

Ill 

These  were  the  men  who  ventured  forth 
From  fireside  ease;  with  wife  and  child 
They  sought  the  yet  unpeopled  wild 

And  set  their  village  in  the  north. 

We  cannot  praise  them  nor  condemn, 
Their  faults  and  virtues  are  effaced; 
Yet  in  their  history  may  be  traced 

Enough  to  make  us  honor  them. 

In  council  slow,  in  judgment  sure, 

They  faltered  not,  nor  turned  aside; 
In  faith  they  owned  a  perfect  guide, 

And  what  they  builded  shall  endure. 

We  are  their  children;  the  same  blood 

Courses  these  veins;  their  names  we  bear; 
Then  let  it  be  our  foremost  care 

To  guard  our  birthright  as  we  should. 


THE  FOUNDERS  OF  WALLINGFORD  63 

An  age  of  doubt  succeeds  the  age 

Of  faith;  men  grow  indifferent 

To  great  ideals  of  government, 
Oblivious  of  their  heritage. 

They  wander  restless  to  and  fro, 

Desert  the  tried  for  something  strange; 
They  hail  as  progress,  wanton  change; 

Recklessly  to  the  ground  they  throw 

The  trusty  bulwarks  of  the  past, 

And  deem  things  good  because  they  are  new: 
Our  fathers  sought  for  what  was  true, 

And,  having  found  it,  held  it  fast. 

In  council  slow,  in  judgment  sure, 

We  too  must  learn  to  know  the  beauty 
That  strews  the  simple  path  of  duty; 

Thus  shall  we  build  what  may  endure. 

And  when  men  clamor,  Alter  this! 

And  in  their  ignorance  cry,  Reform! 

Then  shall  we  bow  before  the  storm 
And  closer  cling  to  that  which  is. 

But  when  new  problems  need  our  skill 

And  all  the  world  seems  fogged  in  night, 
We  first  shall  ponder  what  is  right, 

Then  mould  the  world  to  serve  our  will. 

So  haply,  when  the  plough  or  sword 

Falls  from  our  hands,  and  we  are  laid 
In  the  cold  ground,  it  shall  be  said, 

"  They  built  a  statelier  Wallingford." 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  WALLINGFORD 
1670-1694 

BY  MANSFIELD  MERRIMAN 

Sixth  in  Descent  from  Nathaniel  through  his  son  John, 

seventh  through  his  daughter  Mary,  and  seventh 

through  his  son  Caleb 


In  the  year  1670  a  man  fifty-seven  years  old,  with  his  wife 
and  five  children,  came  to  Wallingford  and  built  a  log  house 
at  the  northwest  corner  of  the  present  Main  and  Ward 
Streets.  From  early  youth  his  life  had  been  laborious 
and  he  had  occupied  a  subordinate  position  in  the  com- 
munity where  he  had  previously  lived.  Yet  in  the  new 
and  growing  village  of  Wallingford  he  soon  became  a 
prominent  leader  in  civil  and  military  affairs.  His  great 
work  was  done  here  after  he  had  passed  the  age  of  sixty. 
To-day  we,  his  descendants,  meet  to  pay  due  honor  to  his 
memory. 

Nathaniel  Merriman  had  fought  in  the  Pequot  war  in 
early  manhood.  At  New  Haven  he  had  been  private, 
sergeant,  and  ensign  in  the  train  band  or  military  company. 
At  Wallingford  the  first  care  of  every  settler  was  to  protect 
his  home  against  the  Indians,  and  a  train  band  was  soon 
organized,  of  which  Nathaniel  Merriman  was  appointed 
lieutenant  in  1672  by  the  General  Court  of  Connecticut. 
This  train  band  was  too  small  to  have  a  captain  and  hence 
Lieut.  Merriman  was  its  head.  How  efficient  were  his 

64 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  WALLINGFORD      65 

labors  appears  from  the  fact  that,  although  a  constant  guard 
had  to  be  kept  and  although  houses  had  to  be  fortified,  no 
actual  struggle  with  the  Indians  ever  occurred  in  this  town. 
The  dark  days  of  danger  were  in  the  years  1675  and  1676 
and  he  then  rendered  special  service  in  King  Philip's  war. 
Until  the  year  1692  he  was  the  efficient  head  of  the  Walling- 
ford  train  band.  Then  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  he  laid 
down  his  military  work.* 

During  these  years  he  was  in  constant  cooperation  with 
the  authorities  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  military 
affairs.  He  was  also  the  deputy  or  representative  of  Wal- 
lingford  to  the  General  Court  at  Hartford  for  nine  sessions,  f 
The  journey  from  Wallingford  to  Hartford  then  occupied 
an  entire  day  and  was  doubtless  often  made  on  foot,  the 
party  being  always  armed  to  protect  themselves  against  the 
Indians.  In  those  years  also  he  rendered  service  to  the 
County  of  New  Haven  by  acting  as  a  juror  in  its  courts, 
as  a  commissioner  in  establishing  the  boundaries  of  towns 
and  in  the  erection  of  bridges.  Real  estate  which  he  con- 
tinued to  hold  at  New  Haven  also  claimed  some  attention, 
so  that  his  journeys  there  were  doubtless  frequent.  Thus 
his  personality  was  well  known  throughout  the  colony  of 
Connecticut. 

His  first  formal  service  in  civil  affairs  to  the  town  of 
Wallingford  was  in  1672  when  he  was  appointed  Secretary 
of  the  Committee  to  distribute  land  among  the  planters. 
Soon  after  he  was  chosen  town  clerk,  and  reelected  annually 
to  that  office  for  nine  years.  In  1675  he  was  appointed 

*  See  my  pamphlet  "  Nathaniel  Merriman,  one  of  the 
Founders  of  Wallingford  in  the  State  of  Connecticut "  (New 
York,  March,  1913),  for  references  to  the  authorities  where 
these  historical  facts  are  first  stated. 

t  See  Records  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 


66  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

one  of  a  committee  to  establish  a  church,  but  as  no  church 
buildin  was  erected  the  Sabbath  services  were  often  held 
at  his  1  ouse.  He  was  one  of  a  committee  to  erect  a  mill 
for  grinding  corn,  he  was  named  as  a  trustee  in  deeds  of  land 
to  the  town  of  Wallingford  by  the  Indians.*  During  one 
year  he  was  a  magistrate  of  the  town,  empowered  to  settle 
disputes  and  join  young  couples  in  matrimony.  His  influ- 
ence in  every  direction  appears  to  have  been  that  of  a  leader 
and  wise  counsellor. 

What  manner  of  man  was  this,  who  after  the  age  of  sixty, 
developed  such  executive  capacity  and  became  such  a 
trusted  leader?  Was  he  of  stalwart  form,  as  some  have 
supposed?  Was  he  of  cheery  temperament,  or  was  his  cast 
of  mind  stern  and  forbidding?  Was  he  of  deep  religious 
convictions,  or  was  his  church  activity  merely  a  matter  of 
duty?  These  queries  cannot  now  be  answered,  but  from 
what  is  recorded  and  what  is  not  recorded  some  inferences 
may  be  drawn.  He  was  prompt  and  thorough  in  the  per- 
formance of  all  his  duties.  His  records  as  town  clerk  are 
kept  neatly  and  accurately.  Not  once  in  all  his  military 
career  is  there  a  mention  of  the  slightest  deviation  from 
appointed  duty.  Not  once  is  he  noted  as  absent  from  an 
appointed  meeting.  Once  when  unwell  he  appeared  at  the 
General  Court  in  Hartford  as  the  Wallingford  deputy  and 
was  excused  from  attendance  on  that  account.  He  was 
an  observer  of  law  and  precedent.  In  1675  when  he  was 
town  clerk  he  did  not  record  the  death  of  his  son  in  the 
swamp  fort  fight  in  Rhode  Island,  and  the  only  reason  we 
can  imagine  for  this  omission  is  that  he  thought  it  improper 
to  record  a  death  which  did  not  occur  in  the  town  of 
Wallingford. 

*  See   Davis'  History   of   Wallingford   regarding    the    above 
statements;  also  the  paper  on  pages  95-103. 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  WALLINGFORD       67 

He  had  a  high  sense  of  justice  and  fairness  as  is  clearly 
shown  by  his  will.  He  had  a  modesty  and  a  shrinking 
from  notoriety,  as  is  clearly  shown  from  the  circumstance 
that,  although  the  title  Captain  was  generally  applied  to 
him  after  King  Philip's  war,  he  himself  used  only  the  prefix 
Lieutenant,  for  the  Wallingford  train  band  was  then  too 
small  to  have  a  head  with  the  official  title  of  Captain. 
Through  all  his  life  he  was  a  hard  worker.  After  the  age 
of  sixty  he  labored  hard  as  a  farmer  at  Wallingford  for  the 
support  of  his  family,  yet  he  also  found  time  to  work 
for  the  church,  the  town,  the  county,  and  the  colony.  All 
his  work  seems  to  have  been  well  done.  Such  was  the  man 
whose  memory  this  day  we  delight  to  honor. 

The  children  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  ranged  in  age  from 
one  to  twenty  years  when  he  came  to  Wallingford  in  1670. 
The  eldest  son  was  assigned  a  lot  adjoining  that  of  his 
father,  but  it  is  not  known  whether  or  not  he  had  married 
and  built  a  house  upon  it  before  he  went  forth  to  King 
Philip's  war  in  1675.  The  two  eldest  daughters  married 
in  New  Haven,  but  came  with  their  families  to  Wallingford 
a  few  years  after  its  foundation.  As  the  younger  children 
grew  up,  they  married  and  settled  near  by.  Thus,  sur- 
rounded by  the  families  of  seven  of  his  children,  Nathaniel 
Merriman  was  a  patriarch  to  whom  all  looked  up  with 
reverence.  At  the  time  of  his  death  in  1694  thirty-eight 
grandchildren  and  several  great-grandchildren  had  been 
born. 

Joan,  who  was  the  wife  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  when 
he  wrote  his  will  in  1692,  survived  him  by  fifteen  years. 
Her  maiden  surname  is  unknown  and  it  is  thought  that 
she  was  a  second  wife  and  not  the  mother  of  his  children. 
But  through  all  the  years  at  Wallingford,  she  had  the  care 
of  those  children  among  discomforts  and  trials  of  which  we 


68  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

at  the  present  day  can  scarcely  form  a  conception.     To 
her  also  let  all  honor  be  due. 

In  the  office  of  the  town  clerk  at  Wallingford  there  is  an 
old  book,  8  by  12  inches  in  size  and  bound  in  home-made 
leather,  which  contains  127  numbered  pages  and  a  fly  leaf. 
Pages  1-17  of  this  book  give  the  records  of  the  New  Haven 
Committee,  the  agreement  of  the  Wallingford  planters 
with  their  autographic  signatures,  resolutions  of  the  General 
Court  of  Connecticut  regarding  the  village,  and  the  action 
of  the  Wallingford  committee  in  assigning  house  lots.  On 
May  27,  1672  this  committee  resigned  its  trust  to  the 
inhabitants  and  Nathaniel  Merriman  was  appointed  Secre- 
tary or  town  clerk.  Pages  18  to  72  of  this  old  book  are 
in  his  handwriting,  the  matter  consisting  of  minutes  of 
town  meetings,  business  with  adjoining  towns,  ear  marks 
of  cattle  and  records  of  births,  marriages,  and  deaths.  The 
writing  is  neat  and  for  the  most  part  readily  legible,  although 
the  edges  of  many  leaves  are  torn  and  stained. 

A  recent  examination  of  this  old  book  has  brought  to  light 
several  facts  not  hitherto  mentioned  in  print.*  For  many 
years  he  was  one  of  the  appraisers  appointed  by  the  town 
to  make  lists  of  property.  For  ten  years  he  was  one  of  the 
"  townsmen,"  or  selectmen,  which  managed  the  business 
of  the  village,  and  during  five  of  these  years  he  was  the 
first  selectman  who  probably  then,  as  now,  did  most  of  the 
work.  He  was  at  the  head  of  the  committee  to  erect  and 
repair  the  mill.  He  served  as  one  of  the  auditors  to  examine 
the  yearly  accounts.  He  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
which  in  1691  was  appointed  to  "  seat  the  meeting-house." 

Some  light  upon  his  character  is  shown  by  this  old  book 
in  the  records  of  his  dissenting  votes  cast  in  the  town  meet- 

*  See  the  paper  on  pages  95-103. 


NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN  IN  WALLINGFORD      69 

ings.  One  year  a  motion  was  passed  to  allow  a  certain 
way  of  rating  property,  there  being  four  dissenting  votes 
recorded,  the  name  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  standing  first. 
Another  year  a  motion  was  passed  that  every  man  in  town 
should  work  for  Rev.  Mr.  Street  "  to  suit  his  need  and 
having  two  days  notice  ";  to  this  there  were  five  dissenters 
whose  names  are  recorded,  that  of  Nathaniel  Merriman 
being  given  first.  These  facts  show  that  when  he  was 
positive  that  he  was  right,  he  did  not  hesitate  boldly  to 
proclaim  his  views  even  though  he  was  in  a  hopeless  minority. 

A  strong  character  like  this  could  not  fail  to  leave  its 
impress  upon  those  who  followed  him.  As  one  evidence  of 
the  respect  shown  for  his  memory,  it  may  be  noted  that 
five  of  his  grandchildren  were  named  Nathaniel.  Even 
in  families  but  indirectly  connected  with  his  own,  children 
were  named  after  him.*  For  many  years  after  his  death, 
stories  of  his  strong  personality,  of  his  services  in  the  Indian 
wars,  and  of  his  public  career  were  undoubtedly  often  told 
by  Wallingford  firesides.  He  lived  respected,  he  died 
regretted,  and  the  memory  of  his  work  still  survives.  Such 
was  the  man  whom  we  this  day  are  proud  to  call  our  com- 
mon ancestor. 

*  For  instance,   Merriman    Munson,  Merriman    Cook,    and 
Merriman  Hotchkiss. 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR  OF  1675  AND  THE  SERVICES 

RENDERED  THEREIN  BY  NATHANIEL  MERRI- 

MAN  AND  HIS  ELDEST  SON 

BY  GEORGE  M.  CURTIS 

Seventh  in  Descent  from  Nathaniel  through  his 
daughter  Mary 


When  Wallingford  was  settled  in  1670,  forty-eight  men 
'  comprised  all  the  male  adults.  Five  years  later  this  number 
may  have  been  increased  by  perhaps  ten.  As  quite  a  num- 
ber of  these  men  were  young,  and  had  been  recently  mar- 
ried, it  is  probable  that  the  total  population  of  the  town 
did  not  exceed  three  hundred  and  fifty  souls.  Perhaps  there 
were  fifty  houses  in  the  settlement,  all  facing  on  what  is 
now  the  main  street,  and  extending  over  a  distance  of  a 
mile.  New  Haven  was  the  nearest  town,  twelve  miles 
to  the  south. 

In  what  is  now  Meriden,  there  were  only  two  houses, 
while  some  ten  miles  north  of  these,  in  the  southern  part 
of  Wethersfield,  was  the  fortified  house  of  Sergt.  Richard 
Beckley,  in  a  locality  still  known  as  Beckley's  Quarters, 
in  the  present  town  of  Berlin. 

It  may  be  readily  seen  that  the  situation  of  Wallingford 
was  an  exposed  and  isolated  one,  and  that  a  journey  to 
Hartford  or  New  Haven  over  an  Indian  trail  through  the 
surrounding  primeval  forests  was  fraught  with  danger  and 
peril. 

70 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR  71 

The  Indian  war  of  1675-6,  commonly  known  as  King 
Philip's,  actually  broke  out  on  June  20,  1675,  in  an  attack 
on  Swansea,  a  town  located  just  west  of  Fall  River,  Mass. 
As  towns  were  sacked  and  burned,  and  the  inhabitants 
butchered,  the  alarm  soon  became  general  throughout 
New  England,  for  it  was  apparent  that  the  Indians  were 
embarked  in  a  war  of  extermination.  The  Indians  of 
Connecticut  were  restless  also  during  the  whole  period, 
as  may  be  seen  by  an  examination  of  the  Colonial  Records. 

The  first  evidence  in  Wallingford  of  the  general  panic 
throughout  New  England  appears  on  the  town  records  in  a 
series  of  votes  passed  August  27th.  There  were  other 
votes  of  like  nature  adopted  on  later  dates.  Those  of 
August  27,  1675,  are  as  follows: 

"  In  respect  to  the  present  danger  of  the  Indians  it  was 
ordered  that  ye  inhabitants  secure  themselves  and  the 
principall  of  theyre  goods  by  fortifying  about  two  houses 
wch  houses  are  to  be  Mr.  Samuel  Streets  and  Leutenant 
Merrimans  &  that  this  work  of  fortifying  be  set  upon  the 
28th  of  August  by  ye  whole  town  and  followed  until  it  be 
effected  &  whosoever  fails,  to  pay  a  fine  of  5  shillings." 

"  Also  that  every  man  bring  his  armes  &  ammunition 
compleate  upon  the  Saboth  day  y*  he  may  be  able  in  a  fitt 
posture  to  do  service  if  need  require." 

"  That  ye  select  guard  serve  as  sentinells  on  ye  Sabath 
and  ye  rest  of  the  town  ward  4  men  every  Sabbath  and  2 
every  weeke  day  &  be  warned  by  order  from  ye  Constable 
by  ye  watch  and  called  &  y*  they  begin  to  ward  when  the 
watch  breaks  up  and  hold  on  till  ye  watch  be  sett  again: 
y*  they  begin  and  end  at  ye  dawning  and  shutting  in  of 
ye  day:  and  y1  both  watch  and  ward  come  to  ye  constable 
and  y*  theire  arms  may  be  viewed  if  they  be  according  to 
law:  this  until  further  order,  provided  notwithstanding 


72  MERRIMAN  liEUNION 

ye  select  guard  is  not  hereby  freed  from  warding  on  ye 
weeke  days:  it  is  alsoe  ordered  y*  ye  drum  beat  at  ye  setting 
and  breaking  up  of  ye  watch." 

On  Sept.  23,  1675,  "It  was  ordered  y4  ye  day  workers 
for  ye  cutting  of  brush  be  performed  ye  next  Monday  & 
Tuesday  being  ye  2;th  &  28th  instants  &  ye  Drum  to  beat 
in  ye  morning  &  ye  persons  to  work  meet  at  Eleazur  Peck's 
house  &  so  distribute  4  parts  to  work  at  ye  view  part  of 
ye  town  &  ye  other  3  persons  towards  ye  lower  end  of  the 
town  &  that  is  about  ye  South." 

On  Sept.  28,  1675,  "  It  was  ordered  &  agreed  hoping  it 
may  be  no  offence  to  ye  Honorable  Council  that  as  in  other 
towns  they  have  abated  of  ye  number  appointed  for  ward- 
ing considering  ye  necessities  of  occasions  and  inability  to 
to  hold  to  ward  on  4  qurts  of  ye  towne  every  day;  we  also 
have  presumed  to  make  some  abatement  of  ye  present  until 
more  danger  appears  or  our  superiors  see  cause  to  reduce 
us  to  our  former  injunction." 

On  Oct.  5,  1675,  "It  was  ordered  y*  those  persons  y* 
live  at  that  end  of  ye  towne  where  Mr.  Moss  liveth  viz 
Mr  Moss  Mr  Brocket  Sergt  Doolittle  John  Beach  Sr 
Eliasaph  Preston  Wm  Ebnatha,  if  they  see  cause  to  fortify 
any  of  their  houses  which  they  can  agree  upon  for  their 
safety  in  their  time  of  danger  what  their  first  charge  is 
shall  be  defrayed  out  of  ye  town  treasury:  alsoe  y*  any  that 
are  willing  to  be  assistant  to  make  flankers  at  Lieut. 
Merriman's  barne  shall  have  due  recompence  out  of  ye 
town  treasury." 

"  Dec.  4  1675  ye  towne  consented  to  be  at  ye  charge  of 
fortifying  one  house  at  ye  lower  end  of  ye  towne  where 
Serg*  Doolittle  liveth." 

"  Mar  4  1675/6  these  persons  were  allowed  to  belong  to 
ye  lower  garrison  Mr  Moss  Eliasaph  Preston  Wm  Ebnatha 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR  73 

John  Peck  Jeremiah  How  Saml  Brockett  Jabez  Brockett 
Insign  Doolittle  John  Beach." 

"  Mar  4  1675/6  Mr  Moss  Lieut  Merriman  &  Benj.  Lewis 
chosen  a  committee  to  see  to  the  fortifications  y*  they  may 
be  made  sufficient  according  to  ye  true  intent  of  ye  councils 
order  Mar  3  1675/6." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  two  houses  selected 
to  be  fortified  against  an  attack  by  the  Indians  were  those 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Street  and  Lieutenant  Nathaniel  Merriman; 
perhaps  because  they  were  the  largest  in  the  village,  and 
located  at  about  the  center. 

The  senior  ranking  military  officer  of  Wallingford  at  that 
time  was  Nathaniel  Merriman,  who  was  appointed  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  Train  Band  in  1672.  The  Colonial  Records 
of  the  period  are  silent  about  any  other  military  officer  in 
Wallingford,  except  that  in  October,  1675,  Samuel  Munson 
was  appointed  Ensign.  So  far  as  the  records  disclose, 
there  were  no  other  officers  of  the  Train  Band. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Governor  and  Council  held  November, 
1675,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Merriman  was  appointed  Captain 
of  Dragoons  for  New  Haven  County;  each  county  was  to 
furnish  sixty  Dragoons  for  the  Narragansett  campaign. 
They  are  supposed  to  have  been  equipped  with  horses, 
long  arms  and  ammunition.  Just  what  were  the  services 
of  Lieutenant  Nathaniel  in  the  various  expeditions  of  the 
Connecticut  troops,  we  do  not  know,  but  we  are  certainly 
led  by  subsequent  events  to  believe  that  they  were 
important. 

He  may  have  been  with  Major  Treat  in  the  expeditions 
for  the  relief  of  Deerfield,  Hadley  and  Springfield,  and  he 
was  probably  engaged  in  the  Naragansett  campaign,  in 
which  three  hundred  Connecticut  troops  participated, 
and  of  whom  eighty  were  killed. 


74  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

We  do  know  that  his  son,  Nathaniel  Merriman,  was  killed 
at  the  Great  Swamp  Fort  fight  on  December  19,  1675. 
One  likes  to  believe  that  Lieutenant  Nathaniel,  remember- 
ing the  death  of  his  son,  was  one  of  those  grim  and  wrathful 
Puritans  who  swung  their  heavy  cutlasses  and  thought  of 
Saul  and  Agag,  and  spared  not. 

While  the  results  of  this  Great  Swamp  Fort  fight  were 
disastrous  to  the  Indians,  it  rendered  them  but  little  less 
troublesome,  and  we  know  that  Connecticut  was  harassed 
by  marauding  and  skulking  bands  of  Indians  who  were 
threatening  various  points  of  the  Colony,  and  who  even  went 
so  far  as  to  burn  the  town  of  Simsbury. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Council  in  Hartford,  March  3, 
1675/6,  the  following  minute  was  adopted: 

"  Upon  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from  Lnt  Merriman  and 
Ensign  Munson,  of  Wallingford,  concerning  their  garrison 
houses  and  watches  and  wardes  (the  Council)  do  recommend 
it  to  the  people  there  to  watch  and  guard  their  garrisons, 
etc.,  and  also  to  desire  two  of  the  Assis*^  of  New  Haven 
to  com  upon  the  place  and  to  assist  them  in  the  setleing  of 
their  affayres  for  the  best  good." 

There  is  on  file  on  the  manuscript  War  Records  in  the 
State  Library  at  Hartford,  the  following  letter  from  John 
Moss  Senior  and  Nathaniel  Merriman,  dated  the  3oth  of 
March,  1676: 

Honored  Sirs 

these  few  lines  are  to  certifie  you  .  .  .  that  last  night  Good- 
man Coles  house  was  burnt  and  this  morning  came  wume 
Thorns  and  severall  Indeans  with  him  a  pass  from  S  Major 
treat  which  indeans  we  did  suspect  to  have  burnt  it  but  they 
say  they  lay  at  Serj  Beckles,  and  came  out  of  Wethersfield 
Sun  2  hours  high  and  it  was  dark  before  they  come  to  Serj 
Becklies.  But  while  the  indeans  now  here  at  Wallingford  their 


KING  PHILIP'S  WAR  75 

came  some  souldiers  downe  and  they  say  that  these  indeans 
came  out  of  Wethersfield  about  sun  half  an  hour  high  and  Dum 
Thorn  sayeth  that  Mr.  Chester  and  Wethersfield  Miller  saw 
them  when  they  came  by  the  mill.  And  these  indeans  say  that 
they  saw  a  great  many  traks  and  some  of  them  went  toward 
Matabesut  mountains,  and  others  toward  the  hanging  hills  as 
they  did  judge  near  a  100.  These  things  being  considered  we 
doe  judge  the  enemie  is  near  us  and  therefore  doe  desire  that 
you  would  speedyly  consider  our  condition  and  send  us  some 
help.  And  soe  being  in  hast  wee  rest  desiring  your  prayers  that 
the  lord  would  guid  you  and  us  to  do  that  which  may  most 
please  him,  we  rest, 

Your  Humble  Servants 

John  Moss  senior 

ffrom  Wallingford  Nathaniel  Merriman 

the  3oth  of  the  ist  mo  1676. 

The  farm  of  Goodman  Cole  was  in  the  present  township 
of  Meriden,  and  his  house  stood  at  what  is  now  the  south- 
west corner  of  Colony  Street  and  Kensington  Avenue. 
Mr.  Cole  had  bought  the  farm  from  its  first  owner  in  1673. 
There  were  only  two  houses  in  the  whole  township  of 
Meriden  at  this  time.  The  other  was  the  old  stone  farm, 
or  fort,  lying  about  two  miles  north  of  the  house  of  Mr. 
Cole.  One  can  readily  see  that  the  situations  were  exposed 
and  solitary. 

By  subsequent  records  we  find  that  there  is  no  doubt 
that  the  house  of  Mr.  Cole  was  burned  by  Indians,  for  in 
the  examination  of  Menowniett,  held  August,  1676,  it  was 
discovered  that  it  was  the  Indian  Cohas  who  had  burned 
Goodman  Cole's  house.  Cohas  (or  Cohause)  was  finally 
captured  between  Milford  and  New  Haven,  and  taken 
before  the  Council.  He  confessed  that  he  had  killed  a 
Mr.  Kirby,  of  Middletown,  on  the  -road  to  Wethersfield, 
and  that  he  had  burned  Goodman  Cole's  house.  He  was 
executed  by  an  Indian. 


76  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

Whether  the  destruction  of  Mr.  Cole's  house  caused  his 
death,  we  are  not  sure,  but  we  do  know  that  Nathaniel 
Merriman  filed  the  inventory  of  Henry  Cole,  deceased,  of 
Wallingford,  in  the  Probate  Court  of  New  Haven  on  May 
12,  1676,  only  a  short  time  after  the  destruction  of  the  house. 
Apparently  most  of  his  household  stuff  was  destroyed  in 
the  fire. 

Nathaniel  Merriman 's  services  in  King  Philip's  war 
were  recognized  as  important  by  his  fellow  townsmen,  for 
on  January  26,  1684/5, the  following  vote  was  passed: 

"  The  town  showing  their  respect  to  those  that  were 
employed  in  the  countrys  service  in  the  war  do  grant  unto 
Lieut  Merriman  10  acres  and  to  the  brothers  of  Nathaniel 
Merriman  that  was  slain  at  the  fort  fight  10  acres:  as  to  the 
rest  of  them  5  acres  apiece  which  they  are  to  take  up 
together  in  some  place  viewed  by  the  townsmen  that  may  not 
be  prejudicial  to  the  town." 

By  subsequent  votes  we  learn  that  the  following  is  the 
roll  of  honor  of  Wallingford  men  in  King  Philip's  war: 

LIEUTENANT  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN, 
*  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN,  JR. 

JOHN  Moss,  JR., 
JABEZ  BROCKET, 
SAMUEL  BROCKET, 
JOSEPH  BENHAM,  JR., 
JOHN  DOOLITTLE, 
ROGER  TYLER. 


THE  WILL  AND   ESTATE  OF  NATHANIEL 
MERRIMAN 


The  last  will  and  testament  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  is 
recorded  in  the  Probate  Court  of  New  Haven,  Vol.  II,  pp. 
146-149.  The  inventory  of  his  estate  follows  immediately 
after  the  will.  In  the  following  copy  the  antique  spelling 
of  words  has  not  been  followed,  except  in  proper  names, 
and  modern  punctuation  has  generally  been  introduced. 

Nathaniell  Merriman  his  last  will  &  testament  made 
June  6,  1692.  I  Nath11  Merriman  being  stricken  in  years, 
not  knowing  the  time  of  my  dissolution,  &  desirous  to  settle 
things  respecting  that  little  outward  estate  God  hath 
bestowed  upon  me,  upon  my  surviving  relations  so  as  may 
prevent  strife  &  contention  between  them  when  I  shall 
have  departed  this  life,  hoping  therefore  that  what  shall 
be  hereafter  written  may  effect  the  same. 

In  the  name  of  God,  Amen.  I  Nath11  Merriman  of 
Wallingford,  being  in  perfect  sense  &  competent  measure 
of  health,  do  by  these  presents  publish  &  declare  that  what 
shall  be  hereafter  written  is  my  last  will  and  testament. 
Of  which  my  will  and  testament  I  do  by  these  appoint, 
constitute  &  ordain  my  beloved  wife  Joane  Merriman 
and  my  youngest  son  Caleb  Merriman  to  be  the  joint 
executors.  And  so  whensoever  it  shall  please  Almighty 
God  to  take  me  away  out  of  this  world  by  death,  I  do  wil- 
lingly commit  my  body  to  the  earth  from  whence  it  was 
taken  &  my  spirit  to  God  that  gave  it  me. 

77 


78  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

And  after  all  my  due  &  just  debts  &  decent  burial  are 
discharged,  I  give  to  my  beloved  wife  during  the  time  of 
her  natural  life  in  this  world  the  full  right,  use  &  improve- 
ment of  the  one-half  part  of  my  dwelling  house  &  barn  & 
the  half  part  of  my  home  lot  whether  pasture  or  other 
land,  &  of  the  orchard.  Moreover  as  aforesaid  &  in  like 
manner  I  give  to  my  beloved  wife  one-third  part  of  all 
other  lands  lying  in  the  first  division  so  called,  whether 
corn  land,  meadow  land,  or  woodland,  or  pasture  land, 
fenced  or  unfenced,  except  such  parcels  as  are  already 
disposed  of  to  my  other  two  sons  John  or  Samuell,  or  shall 
be  hereafter  disposed  of  by  sale  or  gift  before  my  death. 
As  also  one-third  part  of  the  meadow  in  New  Haven  bounds, 
except  as  aforesaid  what  I  have  made  over  to  my  two  sons 
John  &  Samuell  or  shall  be  disposed  of  by  gift  or  sale  before 
my  death.  Also  one-third  part  of  what  land  I  have  in  the 
great  common  field  which  was  granted  to  me  by  the  town 
upon  the  account  of  second  division  land. 

Item.  I  give  &  bequeath  to  my  son  Caleb  Merriman 
the  other  half  part  of  my  house  &  barne,  homelot,  orchard, 
pasture,  or  corn  land.  Also  the  other  two-thirds  part  of 
all  first  division  lands,  corn  land,  meadow,  pasture  or  wood- 
land, and  two-third?  parts  of  the  meadow  in  New  Haven 
bounds  &  of  all  land  in  the  common  field  which  was  granted 
by  the  town  on  account  of  second  division  land,  except  as 
aforesaid  what  is  or  hereafter  shall  be  disposed  of  by  gift 
or  sale  before  my  death,  &  immediately  after  my  death 
my  said  son  Caleb  to  take  full  possession  of  as  his  own  to 
use  &  improve,  enjoy,  or  otherwise  dispose  of,  as  he  shall 
see  cause,  saving  my  wife's  right  to  any  part  of  the  crop 
which  may  at  the  present  be  upon  the  ground.  And  at  the 
decease  of  my  beloved  wife  then  the  other  third  part  of  all 
lands  as  aforesaid  &  the  other  half  part  of  house,  barn, 


CAPT.  NATHANIEL'S  WILL  AND  ESTATE  79 

homelot,  with  all  appurtenances  as  aforesaid  to  return  to  my 
said  son  Caleb.  And  so  the  whole  of  all  my  housing  &  lands 
as  aforesaid  to  be  and  remain  to  him  as  his  own  proper 
right  and  inheritance  forever,  only  if  my  servant  William 
Hanrey  continue  to  serve  out  his  time  agreed  upon,  then 
the  agreement  on  my  part  to  be  performed  by  the  executors. 
Moreover  I  give  and  bequeath  to  my  said  son  Caleb  the  whole 
of  all  my  second  division  land  &  in  any  other  divisions 
that  shall  of  right  belong  to  me  according  to  bounds  & 
quantity  entered  in  the  town  records,  he  my  said  son  paying 
to  my  daughter  Mary  Curtis  the  full  &  just  sum  of  five 
pounds  as  a  legacy  at  or  before  the  end  of  twelve  months 
after  my  decease  and  probation  of  this  my  will. 

As  for  my  other  two  sons  John  &  Samuell  Merriman,  they 
having  already  received  their  portions  in  housing,  lands, 
cattle  and  other  estate,  my  will  is  that  each  of  them  have 
twenty  shillings  paid  to  them  by  the  Executors  as  a  legacy 
at  or  before  the  end  of  twelve  months  after  my  decease  & 
probation  of  my  will. 

Moreover  my  will  is  that  what  swine  or  sheep  my  son 
Caleb  shall  breed  up  as  his  own  during  the  time  we  live 
and  carry  on  together,  those  swine  or  sheep  being  put  to 
those  that  are  reputed  mine,  at  my  decease  the  whole  being 
equally  divided,  that  my  beloved  wife  shall  have  one  half 
and  my  son  Caleb  the  other  half.  As  for  horned  or  neat 
cattle,  or  horse  kind,  my  son  Caleb  his  share  being  already 
delivered  to  him,  my  will  is  that  of  the  principal  &  of  the 
increase  what  is  remaining  at  my  decease  be  all  his  portion 
of  such  cattle  or  horse  kind,  &  all  the  rest  of  such  cattle 
or  horse  kind  either  in  hand,  or  running  in  the  woods,  that 
are  properly  mine  at  my  decease,  my  will  is  that  my  beloved 
wife  shall  have  one- third  part,  &  the  other  two-thirds  parts 
to  be  divided  equally  amongst  my  surviving  daughters. 


80  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

Moreover  I  give  to  my  son  Caleb  all  manner  of  tools 
or  instruments  used  about  husbandry  or  carpenters  works, 
as  cart  wheels,  plans,  plow  irons,  chains,  hoops,  boxes, 
axes,  hatchets,  hoes,  &  all  such  like  things,  except  one  ax 
and  hoe  for  the  use  of  my  servant  Wm  Henry,  or  any  other 
man  servant  that  my  wife  may  have  occasion  to  keep  for 
her  use.  Item,  I  give  to  my  son  Caleb  my  military  books, 
my  cutlash  &  sash,  my  best  gun  &  all  other  accoutrements 
belonging  to  military  affairs,  except  complete  arms  & 
amunition  according  to  law  for  any  one  man  servant  that 
my  wife  may  have  occasion  to  keep. 

Moreover  I  give  to  my  beloved  wife  the  bed,  bolster  & 
pillows,  with  a  pair  of  the  best  sheets,  the  best  rug  &  blanket, 
the  curtains  &  vallanse,  together  with  the  bedstead,  all 
which  we  have  usually  reposed  in  during  the  time  of  our 
living  together.  After  which  it  is  my  will  that  all  manner 
of  my  household  stuff,  as  beds,  bedding,  bedsteads,  linen, 
woolen,  pewter,  brass,  iron,  wooden,  earthen,  &  whatsoever 
comes  under  the  denomination  of  household  stuff,  excepting 
the  great  table  and  the  stillyards,  be  divided,  the  one  half 
to  be  to  my  beloved  wife,  the  other  half  amongst  my  sur- 
viving daughters,  &  as  for  all  my  wearing  aparell  it  is  my 
will  that  it  be  equally  divided  amongst  my  surviving  sons. 

To  which  &  to  all  the  premises  set  to  my  hand  &  seal  this 

We  whose  names  are  under  written  do  testify  that  on  the 
Nath11  Merriman  of  Wallingford  desired  us  to 
attest  to  the  above  &  on  the  other  side  witness  that  it  was 
his  last  will  and  testament. 

Before  the  premises  were  signed  &  sealed  the  town  began 
to  speak  of  appropriating  all  the  Plains,  which  if  it  come  to 
pass,  whatsoever  part  or  parts  falleth  to  my  lot,  it  is  my 
will  that  my  beloved  wife  shall  enjoy  the  one-third  part  of 


CAPT.  NATHANIEL'S  WILL  AND  ESTATE  81 

it  during  the  time  of  her  natural  life,  &  at  her  decease  to 
return  to  my  son  Caleb  to  be  to  him  as  all  the  rest  before 
mentioned.    To    which   all    the    premises    I    said    Nath11 
Merriman  have  set  my  hand  &  seal  September  gth,  1692. 
NATHANIELL  MERRIMAN 

his  seal  [s] 

We  whose  names  are  under  written  testify  that  upon 
the  ninth  of  September  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  six  hundred  ninety-two  the  before  written  Nath11 
Merriman  showed  us  this  writing  &  told  us  it  was  his  last 
will  &  testament  &  signed  &  sealed  it  in  our  presence  & 
desired  us  to  witness  to  it. 

EBENEZER  CLARK  1  _. 

I  Sworn  in  Court 
JOSEPH  HOULL      J 

Febr  8,  169!  Lt.  Nath11  Merriman  declared  to  us  by  good 
deliberation  &  consideration  that  his  military  books  &  his 
fan  to  fan  corn  &  his  carpenter  tools  should  be  divided 
among  his  three  sons  &  they  shall  have  an  equal  share  in 
them. 

Witness  EBENEZER  CLARK     )  _. 

LL  _  ,\  Sworn  in  Court. 

SAM      STREET  JunrJ 

An  Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Lef*  Nathu  Merriman 
of  Wallingford  who  departed  this  life  the  i3th  Febr.  169^ 

Ib.  s.  d. 
Impr.  The  home  lot,  orchard  &  pasture,  house 

&  barn 145.  oo.  oo 

It.  A  river  lot  18  acres  54/6.  26  acres  of  land 

in  the  common  field  with  the  crop  upon 

the  ground  54/6.  23.  6d 108 .  02 .  06 

It.  57  acres  of  first  division  land  28/6.  105; 

meadow  at  New  Haven  40*6 68.     10.     oo 


82  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

lb.  s.  d. 
It.  237  acres  of  second  division  land  60/6.  2 

oxen  10/6.  3  cows  gib.  5$ 79 .  05 .  oo 

It.  i  Bull  3/6.  i  small  heifer  ilb  los.  23 

swine  12/6  los.  8  sheep  4/6 21 .  oo .  oo 

It.  Carpenter's  tools  3/6  55.  Plows,  chains, 

irons,  axes,  hoes,  trowel,  shovel,  6/6  gs. .  .  .  g.  14 .  04 
It.  Cart  wheels,  yokes,  geers,  with  the  irons 

belonging  to  them 3 .  17.  oo 

It.  Indian  corn  in  the  barn  6/6.  Hay  &  oats 

in  the  barn  3/6  105 9 .  10.  oo 

It.  Forks,  a  flail  45  6d.  Brake  &  hatchet  35. 6d .  oo.  08.  oo 
It.  2  sythes,  a  ring  &  robe  los.  A  staff  \vith 

an  iron  head  35 oo .  13 .  oo 

It.  A  quarter  part  of  a  cider  mill  135.  The 

half  of  a  grindstone  6s oo .  19 .  oo 

It.  Indian  corn,  rye  &  oats  in  house  2/6  155  6d 

His  wearing  clothes  12/6  165  6d 15 .  12 .  oo 

It.  In  money 01 .  16 .  05 

It.  A  saddle  145.  4  bells  165.  A  little  bag,  2 

awls,  a  few  hobrats  is  6d 01 .  19 .  06 

It.  Hogs  fat  &  tallow  195  6d.  17  lb  of  flax 

1 7$.  Cider  and  tobacco  ilb  75 03 .  02 .  06 

It.  Hops,  salt  &  tow  ilb  6s  6d.  Sole  leather, 

Indian  corn  i  lb  45 02 .  10.  06 

It.  4  lb  of  yarn  105.  2  guns  with  all  the 

military  accoutrements  8/6  105 09 .  oo.  oo 

It.  All  those  things  that  may  go  under  the  de- 
nomination of  household  stuff 81 .  03 .  10 

557-     15-       7 
dr.  4.       o.       o 

This  Inventory  taken  and  appraisement  made  March  6th,  169^. 


LETTERS  FROM   DESCENDANTS  WHO  WERE 
UNABLE  TO  ATTEND  THE  REUNION 


Time  did  not  permit  the  reading  of  the  letters  in  full 
and  accordingly  the  following  abstracts  or  extracts  were 
presented  by  the  Secretary  of  the  General  Committee. 

Louise  B.  Merriman,  Grass  Lake,  Mich. — "  I  am  sorry 
not  to  be  able  to  be  with  you  to  celebrate  the  advent  of  the 
Merrimans  into  this  country,  but  hope  that  some  of  our 
western  people  will  be  there  and  bring  us  a  report." 

Belle  Merriman,  Jackson,  Mich. — "  I  cannot  go  back 
in  my  ancestry  further  than  my  great-grandfather  and 
think  that  his  name  was  Caleb." 

George  Merriman,  Muskogee,  Okla. — "  I  am  the  son  of 
Eli  T.  Merriman  who  was  born  near  Bristol,  Conn.,  in 
1815,  and  I  have  three  brothers  in  Texas.  I  hope  that  you 
will  have  a  good  time  and  that  in  the  near  future  we  may 
meet  in  the  West.  The  latch  key  to  my  home  is  on  the 
outside  if  any  of  our  relations  ever  come  to  Muskogee. 
Please  send  me  a  copy  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Reunion. 

Mrs.  Florence  Merriman  Young,  St.  Paul,  Mich.,  regrets 
that  she  cannot  be  present  with  her  three  sons.  Her  grand- 
father was  Benoni  Merriman,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Michigan.  She  would  like  to  purchase  genealogical  records 
of  the  Merriman  family  and  also  a  report  of  the  Reunion. 

83 


84  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

Charles  F.  Merriman,  Manchester,  Mich.,  is  also  a  grand- 
son of  Benoni.  He  is  sorry  that  he  cannot  attend  and  would 
like  to  receive  an  account  of  the  Reunion.  His  father 
George  O.  Merriman  was  born  in  New  York  State,  Oct. 
21,  1827. 

Mrs.  Maude  Merriman  Huffman,  Regent  of  the  D.  A.  R. 
Chapter  at  Lebanon,  Tenn.,  has  been  collecting  data 
regarding  the  Merriman  family  and  sends  a  table  of  her 
lineage  from  Capt.  Nathaniel  through  his  son  Caleb. 

Willis  G.  Merriman,  Lowell,  Michigan. — "  I  am  not  sure 
that  I  can  attend  the  Reunion  but  I  send  one  dollar  to  pay 
for  my  luncheon  ticket.  I  do  not  know  which  child  of 
Nathaniel  I  am  descended  from,  but  my  grandfathers  name 
was  Joel." 

Mrs.  Harriet  M.  Hayes,  Torrington,  Conn. — "  I  am  the 
only  living  child  of  George  Merriman  of  Litchfield  who  died 
in  1893  at  the  age  of  94  years.  Any  items  regarding  my 
branch  of  the  family  that  will  aid  future  genealogical  research 
will  be  gladly  furnished.  I  have  just  passed  my  seventy- 
seventh  birthday  and  have  a  good  share  of  the  health  and 
strength  for  which  the  Merriman  family  are  noted." 

Richard  M.  Merriman,  San  Juan,  Porto  Rico. — "  I  am 
very  sorry  that  I  cannot  join  the  distinguished  assembly 
on  June  4  to  do  honor  to  our  common  ancester.  If  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Reunion  are  to  be  issued  I  should  like  very 
much  to  have  a  copy. 

Miss  L.  Beatrice  Merriman,  Boston,  Mass.,  sends  her 
genealogical  record  and  is  very  sorry  that  she  cannot  attend 
the  Reunion.  She  is  a  descendant  of  Amasa  Merriman 
who  was  born  in  Meriden  in  1767. 


LETTERS  FROM  DESCENDANTS  85 

Mrs.  Titus  Mooney  Merriman,  Revere,  Mass. — "  How  I 
wish  I  could  attend  the  Merriman  tricentennial  Reunion, 
but  age  (86  years)  prevents.  My  husband,  who  was  a 
Baptist  minister,  died  a  year  ago  at  the  age  of  90.  He 
descended  through  Caleb,  Eliasaph,  Titus,  Amasa,  and 
Joseph.  I  pray  that  you  may  have  a  happy  time  at 
Wallingford.  The  Merrimans  have  a  good  name  and  I 
trust  that  it  will  never  be  tarnished.  I  hope  to  see  a 
report  of  the  gathering." 

Mrs.  Clara  Merriman  Bell,  Mina,  Nevada,  is  sorry  that 
she  cannot  attend,  but  she  will  be  very  glad  to  copy  for  our 
historian  the  information  which  she  has  gathered  in  twelve 
years'  research. 

Amelia  Frost  Ives,  Dedham,  Mass.,  does  not  know  how 
she  is  descended  from  Nathaniel,  but  says  that  her  grand- 
mother's name  was  Philendia  Merriman. 

Mrs.  Julia  Merriman  Humphrey,  Englewood,  N.  J., 
is  84  years  old  and  cannot  attend  but  sends  wishes  for  a 
very  pleasant  Reunion.  Her  father  was  John  Merriman 
and  his  father  was  James. 

Mrs.  Clinton  Judd,  Dixon,  Illinois,  will  gladly  furnish 
any  possible  assistance  in  compiling  a  genealogy  and  regrets 
that  distance  prevents  her  attendance. 

John  J.  Merriman,  Hartford,  Conn.,  does  not  know  how 
he  is  descended  from  Capt.  Nathaniel,  but  would  like  to 
get  a  list  of  his  branch. 

Mrs.  William  D.  Evans,  Zephyrhills,  Florida. — "  Many 
thanks  for  your  kind  invitation.  Oh!  how  I  would  enjoy 
coming,  but  cannot  this  time.  Best  wishes  to  all  who  can 
be  there  and  hopes  for  many  happy  meetings  of  the  descend- 


86  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

ants  of  our  forefathers.  Perhaps  you  know  more  about 
our  California  cousins  than  I  do,  as  cousin  Clara  Bell  may 
have  told  you  all  about  them  when  she  was  east  several 
years  ago  as  the  delegate  from  the  Peoria  Chapter  of  the 
D.  A.  R." 

Joel  Chauncey  Merriman,  Deckerville,  Michigan. — "  I 
cannot  attend,  but  it  is  a  matter  in  which  I  am  deeply 
interested.  If  you  decide  to  publish  a  book  I  would  like  to 
subscribe." 

C.  La  Rue  Munson,  Williamsport,  Pa. — "  I  am  exceed- 
ingly disappointed  at  my  inability  to  attend  the  Merriman 
Reunion,  but  am  obliged  to  be  then  on  the  Pacific  coast 
on  urgent  business.  I  am  descended  from  both  Abigail 
and  Mary,  daughters  of  Capt.  Nathaniel,  and  am  twice 
descended  through  Mary.  At  one  time  I  worked  out 
that  I  was  five  times  descended  from  Nathaniel  but  I  can- 
not at  this  moment  remember  just  how,  but  think  it  was 
through  Hannah  and  Caleb.  I  shall  be  glad  to  be  a  sub- 
scriber to  the  Merriman  book  if  one  is  published." 

George  B.  Merriman,  Ottawa,  Kansas. — "  Am  sorry  that 
I  cannot  meet  you  on  June  4,  and  moreover  know  very 
little  about  my  ancestors.  My  grandfather  was  Benoni 
Merriman  who  came  to  Michigan  from  New  York  about 
1839.  I  enclose  $1.00  and  would  like  a  report  of  the  meet- 
ing. I  hope  you  will  have  a  pleasant  and  profitable 
Reunion." 

Mrs.  Fannie  S.  Earngey,  Rockford,  Illinois,  says  "  I  am 
specially  anxious  to  be  present  as  Wallingford  was  my  birth- 
place, but  cannot  see  my  way  to  do  so.  To  the  tribe  of 
Nathaniel  I  send  greetings."  She  encloses  her  genealogical 
record  in  full  detail. 


LETTERS  FROM  DESCENDANTS  87 

Jefferson  Davis  Merriman,  Laredo,  Texas. — "  I  am 
exceedingly  sorry  that  I  will  not  be  able  to  be  there  for  the 
Reunion  with  my  family  and  brothers.  I  was  born  in 
1862,  was  married  in  1889,  and  have  three  daughters  and 
one  son,  all  of  whom  are  still  young,  healthy,  good  looking, 
and  single,  but  have  many  sweethearts.  Kindly  send  me 
copies  of  your  proceedings  at  Wallingford." 

Miss  Gertrude  B.  Merriman,  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  regrets 
that  she  cannot  be  present.  Her  grandfather  William 
Merriman  who  was  born  April  28,  1800  near  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  came  to  Indiana  when  sixteen  years  old.  Tradi- 
tions indicate  that  his  family  in  Connecticut  was  well-to-do 
and  that  his  mother  had  red  hair.  She  is  very  desirous  of 
knowing  how  he  was  descended  from  Capt.  Nathaniel. 

Miss  Alice  P.  Merriman,  Madison,  Wisconsin,  is  very 
sorry  that  she  cannot  attend  the  Reunion  to  assist  in  doing 
honor  to  the  memory  of  that  grand  man  Nathaniel.  She 
says  that  Mrs.  Lucius  Fairchild  of  Madison,  the  widow  of  a 
former  governor  of  Michigan,  is  descended  from  Capt. 
Nathaniel. 

Edward  M.  Merriman,  Conway,  Ark. — "  I  had  looked 
forward  to  this  occasion  with  no  ordinary  degree  of  pleasure, 
and  had  so  fondly  anticipated  being  among  and  with  you 
all,  but  alas  I  am  reminded  that  man  proposes  and  God 
disposes.  I  trust  that  the  Reunion  will  be  largely  attended 
and  be  productive  of  much  interest  and  pleasure  to  the 
Merriman  tribe  and  hope  that  you  will  honor  me  with  a 
report  of  the  meeting  if  one  should  be  published." 

Mrs.  .George  W.  Fisk,  Newington,  Conn.—"  My  father 
was  F.  B.  Merriman  of  Waterbury,  Conn.,  a  direct  descend- 
ant of  Capt.  Nathaniel.  I  should  like  very  much  to  attend 


88  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

the  reunion  but  shall  probably  not  be  able;  however,  I  want 
to  know  as  much  as  possible  about  it,  and  should  be  glad  to 
obtain  reports." 

Maurice  H.  Merriman,  Seattle,  Wash.,  is  87  years  old 
but  writes  with  a  firm  hand. — "  While  few,  if  any,  of  the 
family  have  attained  to  the  standard,  so  called,  of  great  men, 
yet  I  have  never  known  one  who  has  brought  discredit 
on  the  name." 

Dr.  Alvin  F.  Merriman,  Oakland,  California. — "  I  exceed- 
ingly regret  that  I  cannot  attend  owing  to  professional 
duties  here.  I  do  not  know  from  which  son  of  Nathaniel 
we  were  descended,  but  my  father  was  cousin  and  playmate 
of  the  late  Rev.  Daniel  Merriman.  I  hope  that  all  will 
enjoy  the  Reunion." 

Arthur  H.  Bennett,  Topeka,  Kansas,  and  Mrs.  Lydia 
C.  Poyer,  Belvidere,  Illinois,  are  decended  from  Abel 
Merriman  and  Elizabeth  Merriman  who  were  married  in 
1756.  They  know  that  Elizabeth  was  a  great  granddaughter 
of  Capt.  Nathaniel,  but  do  not  know  the  line  of  descent 
of  Abel.  They  give  detailed  information  of  their  branch 
of  the  family,  hope  that  a  Merriman  Genealogy  may  be 
compiled,  and  send  best  wishes  for  the  success  of  the 
Reunion.  The  following  lines  are  printed  on  the  back  of 
Mr.  Bennett's  business  card: 

If  I  knew  you  and  you  knew  me, 
If  both  of  us  could  clearly  see, 
And  with  an  inner  sight  divine 
The  meaning  of  your  heart  and  mine, 
I'm  sure  that  we  would  differ  less 
And  clasp  our  hands  in  friendliness: 
Our  thoughts  would  pleasantly  agree 
If  I  knew  you  and  you  knew  me. 


LETTERS  FROM  DESCENDANTS  89 

Mrs.  Jane  S.  Lewis  Bull,  Plainville,  Conn. — "  No  doubt 
all  professions  are  represented  at  the  Reunion  today, 
law,  science,  the  ministry,  as  well  as  he  or  she  who  works 
with  the  hand, — all  alike  worthy  of  their  hire.  I  would  like 
to  look  into  your  faces,  to  hear  your  voices,  to  shake  you 
by  the  hand,  but  through  the  infirmities  of  age  (being 
nearly  fourscore)  I  am  detained  from  coming.  .  .  .  During 
the  three  hundred  years  since  the  birth  of  our  common 
ancestor  what  wonders  have  been  wrought.  The  human 
mind  cannot  grasp  the  vastness  of  the  result  reaching  for- 
ward through  the  endless  life,  the  discipline  of  failures,  the 
glory  of  achievement.  To  the  boy  and  girl  here  today 
listening  to  the  account  of  lives  of  great  and  glorious  results 
I  would  say,  look  up,  and  onward,  and  outward!  The 
Light  of  Earth  is  in  the  heavens  above.  The  Light  of  Life 
has  been  also  lifted  up.  Life  is  eternal,  love  is  eternal. 
So  live  that  you  may  attain." 

Mrs.  Sara  Merriman  Hart,  New  York  City. — "  Nathaniel 
Merriman  was  without  doubt  one  of  the  historical  heroes 
among  the  fathers  of  our  Republic;  one  of  those  many- 
sided  men  whose  versatility  and  achievements  along  diverse 
lines  were  so  marvelous,  that  the  interpretation  of  their 
life  and  thought  must  always  be  suggestive  and  helpful 
to  the  serious  student  of  human  nature  and  especially  to 
those  who  bear  the  same  name;  and  while  his  guiding  thought 
and  secret  motive  force  we  may  not  discover,  yet  the 
qualities  he  displayed  evoke  admiration  and  esteem;  thus 
it  is  eminently  fitting  that  his  name  be  kept  in  remembrance 
and  duly  honored  by  descendants. 

I  may  not  be  with  you  on  this  occasion,  but  will  observe 
the  day  appointed." 

Charles  N.  Merriman,  Orlando,  Florida. — "  In  my  86th 


90  MERRIMAN  REUNION 

year  I  came  to  this  state  and  planted  my  first  citrus  trees, 
for  I  must  do  here  just  what  Nathaniel  and  the  rest  of  the 
fighters  of  ye  olden  tyme  did.  I  am  built  the  same  way, 
made  of  the  same  stern  stuff,  ready  to  fight  at  the  drop 
of  the  hat.  When  the  first  railroad  rail  was  laid  I  was  a 
New  York  State  kid;  I  was  electric  then  and  now  at  88 
I've  enough  left  in  my  storage  battery  to  last  me  another 
score  or  two  of  years.  In  spirit  I  am  with  you  at  Walling- 
ford  on  June  4." 

M.  L.  Merriman,  Hornell,  N.  Y.,  who  was  present  at  the 
Reunion,  had  previously  written  a  letter  giving  interesting 
information. — "  My  line  is  descended  through  Samuel, 
son  of  Nathaniel,  born  1662 ;  his  son  Theophilus  who  removed 
to  Northfield,  Mass.,  and  was  there  killed  and  scalped 
by  Greylock  and  a  small  party  of  Indians  in  1723;  his  son 
Samuel,  born  1723,  Sergeant  in  the  French  and  Indian  War 
and  Captain  in  the  Revolution;  his  son  Samuel,  born  1749, 
who  was  a  minute-man  of  the  Revolution,  made  a  voyage 
to  the  West  Indies,  removed  to  Berkshire,  Mass.,  and  to 
Cooperstown,  Otsego  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1793;  his  son  Samuel, 
born  1782,  who  removed  to  Allegheny  Co.,  N.  Y.;  and  his 
son,  my  father,  Seth  Hamilton  Merriman,  who  was  born 
in  1824  and  is  still  living.  The  traditions  of  our  branch 
of  the  family  have  been  well  preserved  and  I  have  many 
details  concerning  its  history  in  New  York  State.  I  sup- 
pose you  know  about  the  Virginia  Merriman  branch  (some- 
times spelled  Merrimon)  which  has  extended  north  and 
west.  There  is  a  Merriman's  brook  in  Northfield,  Mass., 
a  town  Merriman  in  North  Carolina,  a  Merriman  post 
office  in  Northern  Nebraska,  also  Merriman  in  Michigan." 

Telegram  from  E.  T.  Merriman,  Corpus  Christi,  Texas. — 
"  Congratulations  and  best  wishes  for  successful  Reunion 


LETTERS  FROM  DESCENDANTS  91 

from  a  son  of  Eli  Todd  Merriman  who  was  born  in  Bristol, 
Conn.,  in  eighteen  hundred  and  fifteen  and  was  a  graduate 
of  Yale." 

Telegram  from  John  M.  Black,  Montreal,  Canada. — 
"  Canadian  descendants  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  send 
greetings  to  American  kith  and  kin  and  extend  best  wishes 
for  a  successful  celebration  this  tricentennial  day." 


PART  II 
ALLIED  PAPERS 


WALLINGFORD  TOWN  MEETINGS,  1670-1692 


The  following  brief  notes  from  the  first  record  book 
of  Wallingford  show  the  activities  of  Nathaniel  Merriman 
and  his  sons  in  the  development  of  the  town.  N.  M.  is 
here  used  to  designate  Nathaniel  Merriman,  Sr.,  N.  M.  Jr. 
for  his  eldest  son,  J.  M.  for  his  son  John,  and  S.  M.  for  his 
son  Samuel.  The  notes  are  here  given  in  the  same  order 
as  the  records  appear  in  the  book. 

31.  n.  69  (meaning  probably  31  Jan  1670).  The  compact 
of  the  Wallingford  planters  is  given,  N.  M.  being  third 
on  the  list. 

No  date  (probably  in  1670).  Record  of  the  Wallingford 
house  lots  is  given.  To  N.  M.  is  assigned  the  first  lot 
on  the  east  side  and  the  first  lot  on  the  west  side  of  the 
long  highway.  The  second  lot  on  the  west  side  is 
assigned  to  N.  M.  Jr.  A  record  of  lots  near  Blew  hill 
is  given,  N.  M.  having  12  acres. 

1671,  April  6.    Land  near  Wharton's  brook  granted  to  N.  M. 

1671,  Sept.  25.  N.  M.  and  three  others  engage  to  procure 
and  deliver  1500  good  merchantable  pipe  staves  by  the 
last  of  October  next. 

1671,  Oct.  30.  Granted  to  N.  M.  the  eleventh  lot  on  the 
river  marked  with  the  letter  A. 

*  These  notes  were  made  in  October,  1913. 

95 


96  ALLIED  PAPERS 

1672,  May  27.  The  Committee  appointed  by  the  New 
Haven  authorities  resigned  their  trust  to  the  hands 
of  the  inhabitants.  The  agreement  of  1670  is  reaffirmed, 
there  being  25  autographic  signatures,  of  which  that 
of  N.  M.  is  the  third  and  that  of  N.  M.  Jr.  is  the  four- 
teenth. A  committee  of  five  was  appointed  for  approv- 
ing planters,  the  name  of  N.  M.  being  fourth.  N.  M. 
chosen  secretary  for  the  year  ensuing. 

1672,  July  29.  A  committee  of  nine  appointed  to  distribute 
lands,  on  which  the  name  of  N.  M.  stands  fourth. 

1672,  Nov.  22.  John  Moss  and  N.  M.  appointed  to  treat 
with  Branford  regarding  boundaries. 

1672,  May  9.  The  General  Court  of  the  Colony  confirmed 
N.  M.  as  Lieutenant  of  the  train  band  at  Wallingford. 

1672,  Jan.  3.  The  Committee  on  planters  reported  that 
there  should  be  three  classes.  In  the  first  class  there 
are  six  names,  that  of  N.  M.  being  third.  In  the  second 
class  there  are  25  names,  that  of  N.  M.  Jr.,  being 
thirteenth. 

1672,  Jan.    31.     An   abatement   of   five   shillings   allowed 
N.  M.  on  rates. 

1673,  April  25.     Ear  marks  of  the  cattle  of  planters  are 
given.    N.  M.  comes  first  on  the  list,  his  mark  being 
a  swallow  tail  on  both  ears. 

1672,  April  3.     Mr.  Moss,  Mr.  Brockett,  and  N.  M.  are  to 
see  that  Rev.  Mr.  Street's  goods  are  carted  from  New 
Haven. 

1673,  April   29.     N.   M.   chosen  town  clerk  for  the  year 
ensuing  and  forty  shillings  are  allowed  him. 


WALLINGFORD  TOWN  MEETINGS  97 

1673,  June  17.  Overseers  appointed  to  call  out  men  to  work 
on  Mr.  Street's  house,  N.  M.  being  third  on  list. 

1673,  Sept.  23.  Committee  of  three  appointed  to  judge  of 
Mr.  Street's  damage  in  his  corn,  N.  M.  being  second. 

1673,  Jan.  3.  N.  M.  chosen  to  keep  an  ordinary,  and  he 
promised  to  try  it  for  one  year  if  each  planter  would 
furnish  twenty  fence  rails  and  four  posts  ready 
mortised. 

1673,  Feb.  24.     N.  M.  is  second  on  a  committee  of  five 
to  treat  about  a  mill.    Land  granted  to  N.  M. 

1674,  April  6.     N.  M.  on  a  committee  to  settle  bounds 
between  Wallingford  and  Branford. 

1674,  April  2.  N.  M.  chosen  town  clerk  for  the  year  ensuing. 
A  guard  of  eight  men  appointed  for  the  Sabbath,  N. 
M.  Jr.  being  fifth  on  the  list. 

1674,  5th,  4mo.  N.  M.  and  N.  M.  Jr.  shall  each  have  two 
acres  of  land  added  to  the  lower  end  of  their  lots  next 
the  plain,  as  others  before. 

1674,  Dec.  30.  N.  M's  pasture  at  Wharton  brook  extended 
30  rods. 

1674,  Jan.  6.    This  grant  modified. 

1674,  1 2th,  i2mo.     Six  acres  granted  to  N.  M. 

1675,  1 5th,  2mo.    A  committee  of  13  appointed  to  establish 
and  manage  a  Church  of  Christ,  N.  M.  being  second 
on  the  list.    N.  M.  chosen  recorder  for  year  ensuing. 

1675,  Aug.  27.  The  houses  of  Rev.  Mr.  Street  and  N.  M. 
ordered  to  be  fortified. 


98  ALLIED  PAPERS 

1675,  Sept.  27.  Men  requested  to  build  flankers  at  N. 
M's  barn. 

1675,  Feb.  n.    The  town  agreed  to  work  for  Rev.  Mr. 
Street  to  suit  his  need,  each  man  being  called  in  his 
turn  and  having  two  days  notice.     Five  names  are 
recorded  as  dissenting  from  this  vote,  that  of  N.  M. 
standing  first. 

1675/76,  March  14.  N.  M.  on  Committee  to  see  that  the 
fortifications  be  made  sufficient. 

1676,  Apr.  21.    N.  M.  chosen  first  selectman  for  year  ensuing. 

1676,  Dec.  27.    Three  listers  [appraisers]   chosen,  N.  M. 
being  second. 

1677,  April  24.     Five  selectmen  chosen,  N.  M.  being  the 
second.     N.  M.  chosen  recorder  for  year  ensuing. 

1677,  Feb.  23.    N.  M.  granted  liberty  to  sell  the  land  which 
had  belonged  to  N.  M.  Jr. 

1678,  Apr.  23.     N.  M.  chosen  recorder  for  year  ensuing, 
second  selectman,  as  a  lister,  and  as  deputy  to  the 
General  Court  of  May  next. 

1678,  Sept.  30.  Isaac  Bradley  received  on  the  land  which 
formerly  belonged  to  N.  M.  Jr.  and  which  N.  M.  sold 
to  him. 

1678,  Nov.  5.  N.  M.  chairman  of  committee  to  repair 
mill  dam. 

1678,  Dec.  26.    The  selectmen  to  provide  a  schoolmaster. 

1679,  Apr.  29.     N.  M.  chosen  recorder  for  year  ensuing, 
also  as  first  selectman  and  as  first  lister. 


WALLINGFORD  TOWN  MEETINGS  99 

1679,  Nov.  17.  N.  M.  granted  four  acres  of  land.  N.  M. 
appointed  on  committee  to  treat  with  workmen  to 
rebuild  the  bridge  at  the  Pines,  also  to  speak  with  the 
selectmen  of  New  Haven  regarding  that  bridge. 

1679,  Dec.  2.  J.  M.  received  as  a  planter  of  the  lower  rank, 
and  a  river  lot  of  8  acres  granted  to  him.  Land 
granted  to  N.  M. 

1679,  Jan.  8.  J.  M.  granted  a  house  lot  of  four  acres,  and 
also  ten  acres  at  Wharton's  brook. 

1679,  Jan.  19.  N.  M.  on  committee  to  audit  town  accounts, 
also  on  a  committee  to  treat  with  New  Haven  about 
the  bridge  at  the  Pines.  This  committee  reported  on 
2  Sept.  1680. 

1679,  Feb.  14.  N.  M.  and  Abraham  Doolittle  released  from 
liability  regarding  this  bridge  over  their  proportion 
as  inhabitants. 

1679,  Feb.  1 6.     N.  M.  granted  land.     Rates  laid  to  procure 
glass  for  the  meeting-house,  these  to  be  paid  in  good 
winter  wheat  at  53  per  bushel  and  in  Indian  corn  at 
2s  6d  per  bushel,  this  to  be  delivered  at  N.  M's  house 
on  Monday,  March  8. 

1680,  Apr.  27.    N.  M.  chosen  first  selectman,  recorder  for 
year   ensuing,  and    deputy   for   next    General    Court. 
J.  M.  gave  up  the  land  assigned  to  him. 

1680,  Aug.  30.    A  committee  of  seven  appointed  to  take 
charge  of  the  mill,  N.  M.  being  first  on  the  list. 

1681,  April  6.     N.  M.  chosen  first  selectman  and  recorder 
for  year  ensuing,  also  as  deputy  to  the  General  Court. 


100  ALLIED  PAPERS 

1681,  June  13.  Committee  of  five  appointed  to  purchase 
land  of  the  Indians,  N.  M.  being  third  on  the  list. 
N.  M.  chosen  deputy  for  General  Court  in  October. 

1681,  Oct.  14.  N.  M.  and  Abraham  Uoolittle  to  sign,  on 
behalf  of  the  town,  the  agreement  between  the  town 
and  the  miller. 

1681,  Dec.  17.    J.  M.  granted  twenty-one  acres  of  land. 

1681,  Feb.  13.     J.  M.  granted  twelve  acres  of  land. 

1682,  March  14.    The  town  voted  to  allow  the  way  of 
rating  and  town's  rates  according  to  law.    Names  of 
four  dissenters  are  given,  that  of  N.  M.  being  first. 

1682,  Sept.  ii.  N.  M.  chairman  of  committee  to  take 
charge  of  the  town's  stock  of  ammunition. 

1682,  Dec.  6.     N.  M.  allowed  one  pound  for  hire  of  land. 

1682,  Dec.  15.    John  Moss,  Jr.,  and  S.  M.  bought  of  town 
a  stray  horse  which  was  taken  up.     N.  M.  has  land 
exchanged. 

1683,  Apr.   16.     N.  M.  chosen  second  selectman  and  de- 
puty to  General  Court.    J.  M.  chosen  a  fence  viewer. 

1683,  Apr.  25.  N.  M.  chosen  on  committee  to  decide  on 
land  for  Philip  Conners. 

1683,  Apr.  28.     N.  M.  chosen  lister  No.  i. 

1683,  Oct.  8.  S.  M.  admitted  planter.  J.  M.  granted  ten 
acres. 

1683,  Dec.  6.     S.  M.  granted  ten  acres. 

1683,  Jan.  22.  J.  M.  admitted  on  the  land  that  was  James 
Heaton's,  also  granted  three  acres  of  other  land. 


WALLINGFORD  TOWN  MEETINGS  101 

1683,  March  10.     N.  M.  chairman  of  committee  to  see  that 
contract  with  the  miller  be  performed.     N.  M's  land 
extended. 

1683/4,  Mar.  24.     N.  M.  chosen  first  selectman. 

1684,  July  28.     N.  M.  chosen  lister  No.  i.    J.  M.  allowed 
land. 

1684.  Jan.   26.     N.  M.  granted  ten  acres  on  account  of 
service  in  the  Indian  war;  also  the  brothers  of  N.  M.  Jr., 
who  was  slain  in  the  fort  fight,  granted  ten  acres. 

1685,  Mar.    31.     N.    M.   chosen   first   selectman.     S.    M. 
granted  two  acres. 

1685,  Apr.  20.  N.  M.  chosen  as  deputy  to  General  Court, 
and  also  as  town  lister  No.  i. 

1685,  June  1 8.    N.  M.  chairman  of  committee   to   treat 
with  Indians. 

1685/6,  Mar.  15.  N.  M.  on  committee  to  look  into  the  allot- 
ments of  Macey  Moss. 

1686,  Mar.  30.     N.  M.  chosen  as  third  selectman. 

1686,  April  26.  N.  M.  chosen  on  committee  to  patent  the 
lands  of  the  town.  Similar  vote  on  12  May. 

1686,  Sept.  27.     N.  M.  on  a  committee  regarding  the  mill. 

1686,  Jan.  6.  N.  M.  chairman  of  committee  to  cast  up  the 
land  in  the  second  division. 

1686,  Jan.  20.  Town  voted  to  pay  to  Deacon  Preston  16 
shillings  in  the  rate  for  his  labor  in  teaching  the  school  in 
1686.  N.  M.  dissented  from  this  vote.  S.  M.  allowed 
to  exchange  land. 


102  ALLIED  PAPERS 

1686,  Feb.  14.    J.  M.  granted  two  shillings  for  use  of  his 
broad  axe  at  the  new  mill.     N.  M.  granted  eight  acres 
of  his  soldier  land  joining  to  a  swamp  at  Muddy  river. 

1686/7,  Mar.  9.  N.  M.  allowed  to  fence  only  four  of  his 
six  acres  in  the  field.  J.  M.  to  fence  only  one  acre. 

1687,  Mar.  27.    N.  M.  chosen  second  selectman. 

1686,  Dec.   27.     Lots  cast  for  the  second  land  division. 
N.  M.  drew  No.  17  and  given  261  acres,  J.  M.  drew 
No.  28  and  given  171  acres,  S.  M.  drew  No.  26  and 
given  80  acres. 

1687,  Nov.  17.     N.  M.  granted  four  acres  for  his  service 
in  the  war,  also  eight  acres  in  another  location. 

1688,  May  21.     N.  M.  chosen  commissioner  [magistrate] 
for  the  year  ensuing. 

1689,  first  Monday  in  May.    N.  M.  chosen  first  selectman, 
and  J.  M.  one  of  the  surveyors  of  highways. 

1689,  Oct.  22.    J.  M.  chosen  an  auditor  of  accounts. 

1689/90,  Feb.  19.  Lots  cast  for  the  parcels  at  Falls  Plain; 
N.  M.  drew  No.  24,  J.  M.  drew  No.  50,  S.  M.  drew  No. 
53.  A  fence  to  be  built  around  common  field  and 
across  the  river;  N.  M.  to  build  26  rods,  J.  M.  20  rods 
and  S.  M.  3  rods.  Fence  to  be  built  on  west  side  of 
river;  N.  M.  to  build  20  rods,  J.  M.  28  rods,  and  S.  M. 
22  rods. 

1690,  Nov.  4.    N.  M.  allowed  to  take  up  100  acres  of  his 
second  part  of  second  division  where  it  may  suit  him 
and  14  acres  near  New  Haven  bounds. 


WALLINGFORD  TOWN  MEETINGS  103 

1691,  Sept.  29.     Committee  of  six  chosen  to  seat  persons 
in  the  meeting  house,  N.  M.  being  first  on  the  list. 

1692,  Mar.  15.    J.  M.  chosen  as  fifth  selectman  and  on 
committee  to  lay  out  highways.     Caleb  M.  appointed 
a  fence  viewer. 

1692,  Apr.  26.     S.  M.  granted  an  acre  of  swamp  land. 

1692,  Sept.  19.  J.  M.  chosen  town  treasurer  for  year  ensu- 
ing. S.  M.  owes  the  town  five  shillings  for  four  rods 
of  fence. 


THE   MUNSON  AND   MERRIMAN  FAMILIES 
BY  REV.  MYRON  A.  MUNSON 


The  Munsons  have  held  two  General  Reunions, — the 
first  in  1887,  when  500  kinsmen  were  convened;  and  the 
second  nine  years  later,  in  1896,  which  assembled  200  of 
our  race.  New  Haven  was  the  scene  of  both  of  these 
festivals. 

After  the  delightful,  the  inexpressibly  precious  experiences 
of  those  celebrations,  together  with  the  radiant  memories 
which  they  have  transmitted,  it  is  my  high  privilege  to 
congratulate  the  large  and  meritorious  Family  of  Nathaniel 
Merriman  upon  the  merry  convention  of  his  descendants, — 
a  good  percentage  of  the  "  40,000." 

The  Merrimans  and  the  Munsons  were  much  associated 
in  the  earlier  generations.  The  pioneers  Nathaniel  and 
Thomas  were  fellow-citizens  in  New  Haven.  They  were 
neighbors,  residing  in  the  same  section  of  the  town. 

Then,  so  early  as  1649,  they  were  connected  in  public 
service,  Merriman  being  chosen  a  member  of  the  rating 
committee  "  in  ye  roome  "  of  Munson,  as  the  latter  was 
to  be  absent  from  town. 

The  first  jury-trial  in  New-Haven  occurred  Oct.  3,  1665; 
Thomas  Munson  was  foreman.  The  third  jury-court  was 
held  in  January  1666;  three  of  the  six  citizens  who  com- 
posed the  jury  were  Ll.  Thomas  Munson,  Nath:  Merriman, 
and  John  Moose. 

Of  the  New-Haveners  who  in  1670  removed  twelve  miles 

104 


MUNSON  AND  MERRIMAN  FAMILIES  105 

north-northeastward  into  the  wilderness  to  become  the 
founders  of  Wallingford,  the  most  prominent  were  Parson 
Streete  and  four  citizens  of  New-Haven  of  the  first  genera- 
tion, one  of  whom  was  Nathaniel  Merriman.  It  is  apropos 
to  the  tenor  of  my  train  of  remark,  to  add  that  associated 
with  Mr.  Merriman  in  this  important  enterprise  was 
Samuel  Munson,  only  son  of  Pioneer  Munson. 

The  settlement  was  first  called  "  New-Haven  Village." 
Its  site  was  an  admirably  shaped  elevation  extending  from 
south  to  north  a  mile  or  two,  and  situated  a  mile  eastward 
of  the  Quinnipiac;  a  record  describes  it  as  "  cituated  upon 
the  hill  on  the  East  side  of  ye  great  plaine  comonly  caled 
New  haven  plaine." 

Main  street  of  to-day  was  called  The  Long  High-Way. 
On  the  west  side  of  this,  between  the  streets  now  known  as 
Center  and  Ward,  five  lots  were  laid  out,  each  of  six  acres, 
and  having  a  frontage  of  320  feet;  the  first  was  appropriated 
to  the  "  Ministry,"  now  occupied  by  the  Congregational 
Church  and  the  Bank;  the  second,  unappropriated;  the 
third  was  Ensign  Munson's  homelot;  the  fourth  was 
Nathaniel  Merriman  Jr.'s  lot,  and  next  south  was  Nathaniel 
Merriman  Sen.'s,  while  directly  across  The  Long  High- Way 
was  another  lot  belonging  to  Merriman,  Sen.  It  thus 
appears  that  in  the  beginnings  of  the  new  plantation,  your 
ancestors  and  mine  were  next-door  neighbors. 

In  reference  to  the  relations  of  our  Families  through 
intermarriage,  I  limit  myself  to  one  instance,  a  composite 
one. 

Town-Clerk  Samuel3  Munson  was  the  son  of  Ensign 
Samuel,2  the  Founder.  Caleb 2  Merriman  was  the  son  of 
Nathaniel,1  Sen.  Caleb's  widow,  Mary  (Preston)  became 
the  second  wife  of  Town-Clerk  Samuel.3  At  the  time  of 
this  marriage,  Samuel  already  had  eight  children,  one  of 


106  ALLIED  PAPERS 

whom  was  Waitstill;4  Mary  had  a  daughter  Phebe;  when  the 
widow  Mary  Merriman  became  the  stepmother  of  Wait- 
still,  he  was  ten  years  of  age  and  her  daughter  Phebe  was 
eight  and  one-half  years  old;  this  Munson  boy  and  this 
Merriman  girl,  eleven  years  and  nine  months  later,  were 
united  in  marriage.  Consequent  upon  these  events,  when 
Waitstill  died  124  years  ago,  at  the  age  of  ninety -one,  the 
descendants  of  Waitstill  and  Phebe  were,  already,  12 
children,  50  grandchildren,  155  great-grandchildren,  and 
nine  great-great-grandchildren.  Thus  did  this  Merriman 
and  this  Munson  respect  the  primeval  injunction,  "Be 
fruitful,  and  multiply,  and  replenish  the  Earth." 

Suffer  me  to  refer  to  one  other  public  service,  interesting 
and  honorable,  in  which  the  Merriman  and  Munson 
Families  were  associated:  Dr.  Davis  states  that  for  ten 
years  the  inhabitants  met  for  worship  on  the  Sabbath  in 
the  houses  of  Lieut.  N.  Merriman  and  Ensign  Munson. 
That  the  Wallingford  public  was  somewhat  appreciative 
of  this  generous  hospitality,  is  the  testimony  of  a  record 
dated  Sept.  10,  1677:  "Voted,  that  Ensign  Munson  shall 
have  fourty  shillings  allowed  him  for  meeting  in  his  house 
this  yeare." 

These  ancestors  of  ours  did  not  live  in  an  era  of  luxury, 
but  they  lived — if  I  may  quote  an  old  English  poet — 

"  In  an  age 

When  men  were  men,  and  not 
ashamed  of  Heaven." 


GENEALOGICAL  SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND 
BY  MANSFIELD  MERRIMAN 


In  1894  John  Merriman  Adams  published  the  statements 
that  Nathaniel  Merriman  was  born  at  Tenterden  in  Kent 
on  June  2,  1613,  that  his  father  Theophilus  was  born  at 
Maidstone  in  Kent  in  1573,  and  that  his  grandfather  The- 
ophilus was  born  in  Wiltshire  in  1533.  These  statements 
are  understood  to  have  been  found  by  an  uncle  of  Adams 
in  a  visit  to  England. 

That  the  father  of  Nathaniel  Merriman  was  George,  a 
citizen  and  cooper  of  London,  was  proved  in  1899  when 
Waters  published  the  will  of  George  Merriman,  and  this  is 
verified  by  a  biographical  sketch  written  soon  after  the 
revolutionary  war  by  Samuel  Merriman,  one  of  the 
descendants  of  Nathaniel.  It  seemed  well,  however,  that 
further  searches  in  England  should  be  made,  and  hence  the 
author  spent  several  weeks  there  in  the  summer  of  1913. 
The  objects  of  his  searches  were  to  discover  the  record 
of  the  birth  of  Nathaniel  Merriman,  the  name  of  the  father 
of  George,  and  records  regarding  men  named  Theophilus 
Merriman.  The  following  pages  give  the  facts  and  con- 
clusions derived  from  these  searches. 

i.  ST.  STEPHEN'S  CHURCH,  COLEMAN  ST.,  LONDON. 
This  church  is  located  about  300  yards  from  the  Guild- 
hall of  the  city  of  London.     From  1624  to  1633  Rev.  John 
Davenport  was  its  vicar,  and  a  tablet  in  the  church,  erected 
by  one  of  his  descendants  in  1910,  says  that  some  of  his 

107 


108  ALLIED  PAPERS 

parishioners  accompanied  him  to  New  Haven  in  1638. 
It  may  be,  as  has  been  suggested  by  Miss  Alice  M.  Merri- 
man,  that  our  ancestor  Capt.  Nathaniel,  or  his  father 
George  Merriman,  was  connected  with  this  parish.  I  found 
that  the  registers  are  complete  back  to  1538,  the  year  in 
which  they  were  begun  in  England.  The  records  are  on 
large  sheets  of  parchment,  which  are  bound  in  heavy  leather 
and  boards,  and  are  most  excellently  preserved. 

Looking  first  at  the  register  of  burials  for  1655  and  1656, 
the  name  of  George  Merriman  could  not  be  found.  But 
in  1656  occurs  the  entry  "  John  Maryram  the  sonne  of 
John  Maryram  buried  the  20th  of  May  1656  of  a  consump- 
tion." Also  under  the  following  year:  "  Joseph  Hilton  a 
servant  of  Mr.  Maryrand  buried  the  first  of  April  1657  of  a 
fronenyr."  There  is  a  bare  possibility  that  this  name  may 
have  been  intended  for  Meryman. 

Turning  next  to  the  register  of  baptisms,  I  satisfied  myself 
that  the  names  Nathaniel  and  Merriman  did  not  occur 
between  1605  and  1615,  nor  was  there  seen  any  name 
similar  to  Merriman  or  Meryman.  The  register  of  mar- 
riages was  examined  for  the  same  years  with  similar  result. 
I  therefore  conclude  that  our  ancestors  George  and  Nathaniel 
were  probably  not  connected  with  this  parish.  In  the  search 
I  also  remembered  the  fact  that  some  of  Rev.  John  Daven- 
port's parishioners  of  St.  Stephen's  church  accompanied 
him  to  New  Haven,  as  the  tablet  states,  and  kept  a  watch 
for  names  of  New  Haven  planters.  Harriman  was  the 
only  name  seen,  and  in  the  following  entry:  "  John  Harriman 
and  Jone  Parlor  widdow  married  9  ffebruary  1608."  A 
Harriman,  I  recall,  was  a  magistrate  of  the  New  Haven 
colony,  and  in  1639  was  one  of  those  who  selected  the  com- 
mittee for  the  government  of  the  intended  settlement  at 
Wallingford. 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  109 

2.  THE  WORSHIPFUL  COMPANY  OF  COOPERS. 

On  calling  at  the  building  of  this  company  near  the 
Guildhall,  the  genial  clerk,  Mr.  Boyer,  regretted  that  he 
could  furnish  no  information  additional  to  that  given  to 
Prof.  George  B.  Merriman  in  1911.  He  remembered  well 
the  call  of  the  Professor  and  his  subsequent  letters,  but 
1656  was  a  long  time  ago,  and  the  obstacles  to  further 
examination  were  almost  insurmountable.  He  regarded  it 
as  proved  that  George  Merriman  was  a  member  of  the 
Company  in  1656,  that  he  had  paid  his  quarterage,  and  that 
he  was  a  housekeeper  and  hence  a  freeman  of  the  city. 
But  to  get  further  facts,  if  such  are  on  record,  would  require 
written  application  which  would  be  carefully  considered 
by  the  Court  of  the  Company. 

The  Cooper  Company  at  present  appears  to  be  largely 
a  social  organization,  altho  it  has  some  indirect  connec- 
tion with  the  city  government.  In  the  Guildhall  I  saw 
posted  more  than  fifty  lists  of  members  of  the  old  livery 
companies,  Bakers,  Bankers,  Coopers,  Carpenters,  etc., 
who  were  entitled  to  vote  at  a  coming  city  election.  About 
150  names  were  on  the  list  of  the  Cooper  Company,  with 
residences  widely  scattered. 

3.  ST.  SEPULCHRE,  LONDON. 

Just  at  the  junction  of  Holborn  viaduct  and  Newgate, 
on  the  north  side  of  the  thorofare,  stands  the  church 
of  St.  Sepulchre  where  lie  the  remains  of  the  gallant  Capt. 
John  Smith,  sometime  governor  of  Virginia.  To  the  parish 
of  this  church  once  belonged  John  Norman,  the  elder,  prob- 
ably a  relative  of  that  John  Norman  who  married  Elizabeth 
the  daughter  of  George  Merriman.  His  will,  proved  n  June 
1649,  directs  that  his  body  "  be  intered  on  the  southside  of 
St.  Sepulchure."  Even  at  this  day  a  small  grass  plot  is 


110  ALLIED  PAPERS 

seen  on  that  south  side  with  remnants  of  a  few  old  stones 
and  almost  illegible  inscriptions  on  the  buttresses  of  the 
church.  At  the  time  of  my  visit,  the  church  was  closed  and 
under  repair,  but  at  a  later  time  it  may  be  worth  while  to 
revisit  it,  altho  its  registers  go  back  only  to  the  year 
1662. 

4.  HOZIER  LANE,  LONDON. 

About  400  yards  north  of  St.  Sepulchure  in  Hozier  Lane, 
where  John  Norman,  the  elder,  resided,  as  we  learn  from  his 
will.  His  brother  James  was  a  cooper,  who  by  will  directed 
all  his  property  to  be  divided  among  his  brothers  and 
sisters.  Hozier  Lane  is  a  narrow  business  street  about 
200  yards  long.  Walking  through  it,  we  found  leather 
and  plumbing  to  predominate  in  the  signs,  and  strange  to 
say,  also  the  office  of  the  Electrical  Review,  while  no  traces 
of  the  cooperage  business  were  visible.  Indeed,  as  I  was 
told  at  Cooper  Hall,  the  cooperage  trade  is  almost  a  lost 
art,  for  barrels  are  now  made  in  factories  by  machinery. 
In  the  ancient  days,  however,  it  was  an  important  business, 
and  a  cooper  who  made  wine  barrels  looked  down  almost 
with  pity  upon  one  who  made  beer  kegs. 

5.  CHURCH  OF  ST.  BARTHOLOMEW  THE  GREAT,  LONDON. 

Very  near  Hozier  Lane  is  this  ancient  church,  noted  for 
its  quaint  interior  arrangement  and  its  interesting  crypt. 
To  this  parish  belonged  Peter  Meryman,  yeoman,  whose 
will  of  1598  devises  all  his  property  to  his  mother.  Maybe 
he  was  a  relative  of  George  Merriman,  our  ancestor.  The 
registers,  which  date  from  1616,  may  at  some  future  time 
be  well  worth  inspecting.  We  attended  morning  service 
in  this  interesting  church,  where  there  was  good  music  and 
a  rambling  sermon  from  the  text  "  two  mites  make  one 
farthing." 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  111 

6.  ST.  OLAVE,  SOUTHWARK,  LONDON. 

To  this  parish  belonged  Thomas  Meriam,  whose  family 
came  from  Cranbrook  in  Kent,  Alexander  Merriam,  a 
citizen  of  London,  and  John  Merriman.  The  dates  of  their 
wills  lie  between  1644  and  1648.  The  grandfather  of 
Thomas  Meriam  (or  Meriham  as  it  is  also  spelled)  was 
named  George  and  lived  in  Cranbrook.  John  Merriman's 
will  gives  no  information  as  to  his  descent  or  former 
residence.  That  these  three  men  were  in  the  same  parish, 
leads  to  the  supposition  that  they  were  relatives,  despite 
the  different  spellings  of  names,  and  if  so  a  possible  con- 
nection is  discovered  between  Kent  and  London. 

St.  Olave's  church  is  almost  at  the  south  end  of  London 
Bridge  not  far  from  the  church  of  St.  Saviour  where  lie  the 
remains  of  a  brother  of  Shakespeare  and  where  John  Harvard 
was  baptized.  Near  by  also  stood  the  Globe  Theatre  where 
Shakespeare's  company  played.  The  registers  of  St.  Olave 
go  back  only  to  1685,  and  it  is  unlikely  that  they  would 
furnish  information  regarding  Merrimans.  The  caretaker 
deplored  the  aches  and  pains  of  her  husband  and  regretted 
the  spiritual  decay  of  the  church.  At  Sunday  services 
there  are  usually  present  the  canon,  the  organist,  six  choir 
boys,  and  only  one  worshipper.  The  church  wardens  come 
to  attend  vestry  meetings  at  stated  times,  but  are  never 
present  at  services.  At  the  side  of  the  church,  surrounded 
by  buildings,  is  a  small  open  court  paved  with  grave  stones 
and  called  the  churchyard.  Fortunately  the  key  was  lost 
and  so  we  could  only  view  the  horrible  place  through  a  crack 
in  the  door. 

7.  SOMERSET  HOUSE,  LONDON. 

On  the  north  bank  of  the  Thames,  near  Waterloo  bridge, 
stands  the  imposing  Somerset  House  where  1600  employes 


112  ALLIED  PAPERS 

are  engaged  in  keeping  public  accounts,  chief  among  which 
are  the  registry  of  wills  and  vital  statistics.  Here  are  stored 
all  the  wills  which  have  been  proved  since  1382  in  the  Pre- 
rogative Court  of  Canterbury.  The  original  wills  are  kept 
in  a  fire  proof  room,  while  copies  of  them  are  recorded  in 
huge  volumes  on  parchment.  A  large  number  of  these  wills 
have  been  examined  by  G.  F.  M.  Merriman,  the  accom- 
plished genealogist  of  the  Merriman  family  in  England, 
but  none  of  them  throw  any  light  upon  the  ancestry  of  our 
Capt.  Nathaniel  except  the  will  of  his  father  George  which 
was  proved  in  1656.  This  will  was  the  first  that  I  examined. 
At  the  beginning  it  states  that  the  testator  was  on  31  Oct 
1655  "  weak  in  body  but  strong  in  mind,"  at  the  end  it  is 
signed  "  by  Mark."  At  first  I  thought  that  his  weakness 
of  body  might  be  the  reason  why  he  signed  by  mark,  but 
later  I  found  that  the  expression  "  weak  in  body,  etc." 
was  very  commonly  used,  it  being  a  conventional  way  of 
beginning  a  will.  Otherwise  my  examination  leads  to  no 
information  additional  to  that  given  in  the  copy  of  the 
will  already  published.* 

Eight  other  records  were  examined  by  me  without  finding 
any  facts  regarding  George  Merriman  or  his  children: 

1598.     Peter    Meryman,  yeoman,  Great  Saint  Bartholomew, 
London  (24  Lewyn). 

1646.  Thomas    Meriam,  of    parish    St.    Olave,  Southwark, 
mariner.    His  grandfather  George  of  Cranbrook,  Kent,  entailed 
100  pounds   to    him,   which  he  devises  to  his  mother  Joyce. 
(54  Twiss) 

1647.  Alexander  Merriam,  of  parish  St.  Olave,  Southwark, 
citizen  of  London.     Had  property  in   Maidstone,   Kent.      (55 
Fines) 

1647.    James  Norman,  citizen  and  cooper  of  London.     Will 
made  19  Apr  1640  on  ship  Ulysses  bound  from  Bantam  to  Lon- 

*  See  foot-note  on  page  33. 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  113 

don.     Devises  his  property  on  ship  to  his  brother  John  Norman 
to  be  divided  among  his  brothers  and  sisters.     (182  Fines) 

1649.  John  Norman  (the  elder)  of  Hozier  Lane,  parish  St. 
Sepulchure,    London.     Administration  to  his  widow  Margaret. 
"  My  body  to  be  interred  on  south  side  of  St.  Sepulchure  ...  I 
give  to  my  son  John  Smith  2  shillings."     (100  Fairfax) 

1650.  John  Norman  of  parish  Cliffe,  Kent.    Signed  by  mark. 
(157  Pembroke) 

1653.    Thomas  Merriman,  parish  Stroud,  Kent. 
1653.    Miles  Merriman. 

The  last  two  are  brief  notes  of  administration,  the  parties 
having  no  wills.  While  some  of  the  records  in  these  two 
cases  are  in  Latin,  1  feel  confident  that  they  contain  no 
information  relative  to  George  Merriman,  our  ancestor. 
They  were,  however,  examined  in  some  haste  as  I  obtained 
the  books  about  2.30  p.m.  and  was  obliged  to  stop  at  3.00 
p.m.  when  the  office  closed. 

There  are  no  printed  indexes  to  the  Somerset  wills  later 
than  1649.  Annual  manuscript  indexes  are,  however, 
available  for  consultation  under  restrictions. 

8.  THE  BRITISH  MUSEUM. 

The  library  of  the  British  Museum  has  a  vast  number  of 
manuscripts  in  addition  to  its  2,000,000  printed  books. 
I  spent  some  time  in  going  over  the  catalogues  of  these 
manuscripts,  with  a  view  to  finding  traces  of  Merrimans 
in  Kent  and  Gloucestershire.  One  of  these  manuscripts 
(Add.  33914)  gives  extracts  of  the  old  parish  register  of 
Ashford,  Kent,  from  1570  to  1627,  but  the  name  Merriman, 
or  any  variation  of  it,  does  not  occur,  the  nearest  approach 
being  Edward  Merwing  who  was  buried  21  Dec.  1588. 
Among  the  printed  books  are  a  few  that  I  had  not  seen  in 
New  York.  One  of  them  refers  to  three  wills  proved  in  the 
consistory  court  of  the  Bishop  of  Gloucestershire:  1613, 


114  ALLIED  PAPERS 

Richard    Merriman,     Stow;     1601,    Dorothy    Merryman, 
Charlton  Kings;  1639,  Thomas  Merriman,  Twining. 

Additional  manuscripts  5478-5539  contain  pedigrees  of 
Kentish  families  and  visitations  of  Kent  in  1574  and  1619, 
but  I  did  not  examine  them,  assuming  that  they  have  been 
mostly  printed  by  the  Harlein  Society  or  in  the  Index 
Library.  Mss.  33,907-33,913  are  seven  volumes  of  extracts 
from  parish  registers  of  Kent,  alphabetically  arranged; 
under  M  I  find  Maynard  at  Hadlow,  Mary  at  Birling, 
Merriam  at  Harrietsham,  and  Merrill  at  Tenterden,  but 
otherwise  nothing.  In  all  these  searches  I  have  not  seen 
the  name  Theophilus. 

9.   THE  COLLEGE  OF  ARMS. 

Two  blocks  west  of  St.  Pauls  Cathedral  stands  a  large 
building  known  as  The  College  of  Arms  or  popularly  as  the 
Herald's  College.  Here  are  stored  the  records  relating  to 
Arms  and  Heraldry,  together  with  copies  of  parish  registers 
and  much  other  genealogical  matter.  To  the  officer  in 
charge,  officially  known  as  "  Rouge  Croix,"  I  present  myself 
and  ask  for  information  regarding  George  Merriman,  a 
citizen  of  London  in  1655,  and  arrange  to  receive  his  report 
four  days  later.  The  report,  consisting  of  five  foolscap 
pages,  is  delivered  in  due  time  on  the  payment  of  two 
guineas.  Its  conclusions  are  negative.  It  gives  sixteen 
marriages  of  Merrimans  and  Merrymans  from  1563  to 
1691  and  three  burials;  these  are  from  printed  registers 
and  some  of  them  I  already  had.  It  reports  the  Chester 
manuscripts  of  extracts  from  about  a  hundred  parish  regis- 
ters duly  examined,  that  the  complete  registers  of  35  parishes 
in  London  and  Kent  are  examined,  among  these  being  Ten- 
terden, and  no  trace  found  of  the  name  Merriman  or  Merry- 
man in  any  parish.  Also  that  no  arms  had  been  granted. 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  115 

These  searches,  extending  from  the  earliest  dates  down  to 
1700,  are  duly  certified  to  give  negative  results  by  Arthur 
Cochrane,  Rouge  Croix  of  the  Herald's  College,  London, 
E.  C.  The  report  refers  only  to  the  records  within  the 
walls  of  the  College  of  Arms.  Unfortunately  the  report 
bears  evidence  of  haste  in  preparation,  and  one  of  the  lads 
who  was  engaged  on  the  work  seemed  too  young  to  be 
reliable. 

Examination  of  books  and  manuscripts  in  this  office  is 
difficult,  and  a  fee  of  five  shillings  is  required  for  each 
volume. 

10.  AN  ENGLISH  GENEALOGIST. 

One  block  from  the  College  of  Arms,  in  the  narrow  Knight- 
rider  Street,  is  a  plain  brick  building  bearing  the  sign 
"  Faculty  office  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  for  mar- 
riage licenses."  Here  may  be  procured  licenses,  which 
authorize  ministers  to  unite  in  matrimony  parties  who 
desire  to  dispense  with  the  publication  of  the  banns.  For 
many  centuries  this  business  has  been  carried  on  at  this 
location  and  probably  with  good  financial  returns  to  the 
archbishop. 

In  a  room  on  the  third  floor  of  this  building  is  the  office 
of  George  Frederick  Maskelyne  Merriman,  Architect  and 
Surveyor.  For  many  years  his  spare  time  has  been  devoted 
to  the  collection  of  facts  regarding  the  English  Merrimans, 
the  results  of  which  he  has  recorded  in  ten  manuscript 
volumes.  Wills,  deeds,  and  parish  registers  have  been 
searched  by  him  and  an  extensive  correspondence  carried 
on  with  his  kinsmen.  I  was  most  cordially  received  by  him 
and  he  kindly  gave  me  full  access  to  his  records  and  made 
many  valuable  suggestions  regarding  my  best  methods  of 
search. 


116  ALLIED  PAPERS 

11.  EARLY  ENGLISH  MERRIMANS. 

Mr.  G.  F.  M.  Merriman  traces  his  lineage  with  certainty 
back  to  Thomas  Merriman  and  Alice  his  wife,  the  will  of 
the  latter  being  dated  1648.  The  father  of  Thomas  was 
probably  named  John  who  lived  at  Newbury  in  County 
Berks.  John  had  two  brothers,  one  named  Gregory  who 
died  at  Whitney  in  County  Oxford  in  1596  and  one  probably 
named  James,  who  according  to  tradition  went  to  London. 
The  father  of  the  three  brothers  was  Thomas  Merriman  of 
Whitney  who  died  in  1559.  The  researches  of  Mr.  G.  F. 
M.  Merriman  have  given  him  full  records  of  the  English 
line  which  descended  from  Thomas  and  Alice  Merriman 
of  Newbury.  The  brother  who  went  to  London  was  probably 
the  father  or  grandfather  of  George  Merriman  whose  son 
Nathaniel  came  to  America  in  1632.  The  evidence  now 
at  hand  shows  that  both  American  and  English  branches 
probably  descended  from  the  Thomas  Merriman  of  County 
Oxford  who  died  in  1559. 

The  family  descended  neither  from  the  titled  nobility 
nor  from  the  landed  gentry.  There  are  traces  of  Merri- 
mans  in  other  parts  of  Britain  prior  to  1600  and  our  English 
genealogist  has  a  list  of  about  twenty  localities  where  they 
resided.  The  most  prominent  name  is  that  of  John  Merri- 
man who  was  appointed  chaplain  to  Queen  Elizabeth  in 
1558  and  who  about  1570  was  consecrated  bishop  of  the 
diocese  of  Down  and  Conner  in  Ireland. 

12.  THE  PUBLIC  RECORD  OFFICE. 

A  vast  building,  extending  from  Fetter  Lane  to  Chancery 
Lane,  houses  manuscript  records  of  Britain  for  a  thousand 
years,  especially  those  relating  to  deeds,  taxes,  military 
and  naval  affairs,  and  colonial  matters.  In  its  "  round 
room  "  are  indexes  to  much  of  this  manuscript  material, 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  117 

the  number  of  these  being  so  large  that  it  would  take  me 
a  week  to  examine  them  with  respect  to  the  name  Merriman. 
But  a  catalogue  of  Ancient  Deeds  in  five  large  volumes 
shows  no  trace  of  the  name  prior  to  1500.  I  found,  how- 
ever, that  the  names  Marmion,  Marmium,  Marmyon, 
Marmyun,  Marmioun  and  Marmyoun  occurred  twenty- 
two  times,  ten  of  these  being  in  County  Oxford,  two  in 
Gloucestershire,  one  in  Wilts,  and  others  in  nine  different 
counties.  Some  of  these  man  were  Esqr.,  one  a  Knight, 
one  the  Mayor  of  Marleburgh,  while  Lady  Alice  Marmyon 
was  a  prioress  in  1358.  It  may  be  indeed  that  the  Merri- 
mans  of  County  Oxford,  from  whom  sprang  the  Merrimans 
of  Newbury  and  Marlborough,  were  descendants  of  these 
Marmiouns  or  Marmyons,  for  during  the  fourteenth  and 
fifteenth  centuries  the  spelling  of  names  was  of  slight  impor- 
tance. 

These  old  deeds  are  in  the  Latin  language  but  the  synop- 
ses given  in  the  Catalogue  are  in  English.  "  Feet  of  Fines" 
are  another  kind  of  deeds,  of  which  this  office  contains  vast 
numbers,  together  with  writs,  tax  rolls,  returns  of  the 
clergy,  and  records  of  law  suits.  But  tomorrow,  6  August, 
we  go  to  Kent  to  spend  a  week  in  searches  there. 

13.  PARISH  REGISTER  TRANSCRIPTS  AT  CANTERBURY. 

Prior  to  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  there 
were,  in  the  Diocese  of  Canterbury,  two  ecclesiastical  courts, 
the  Consistory  Court  and  the  Archdeaconry  Court  (C.C. 
and  A.C.  for  short.)  In  each  parish  of  that  Diocese  (which 
included  that  part  of  Kent  east  of  a  north  and  south  line 
drawn  just  west  of  Maidstone)  two  transcripts  of  the  register 
were  annually  made  and  forwarded  to  the  ecclesiastical 
courts;  the  transcript  for  the  C.C.  gave  the  records  for  one 
year  from  Lady  Day  in  March,  that  for  the  A.C.  gave  them 


118  ALLIED  PAPERS 

for  one  year  from  Michaelmas  in  September.  Unfortunately 
there  are  gaps  in  these  transcripts,  some  years  being  missing 
and  others  badly  mutilated,  yet  the  major  part  are  in  a 
fair  state  of  preservation. 

The  first  transcripts  examined  by  me  were  of  Tenterden 
parish,  where  Adams  has  stated  that  Nathaniel  Merriman 
was  born  2  June  1613.  The  C.C.  transcript  for  1613  was 
missing,  but  the  A.C.  was  there  and  it  did  not  contain  the 
name  Merriman.  In  1614,  however,  I  found  in  the  list  of 
baptisms  under  Jan  16  the  record  "  Nathaneel  son  of  Thomas 
Maro."  Examination  of  many  years  failed  to  discover 
the  name  Merriman,  or  anything  like  it. 

The  Maidstone  transcripts  begin  1576  for  C.C.  and  I 
could  find  none  for  A.C.;  1577  was  missing,  also  1579, 
'80,  '81,  '84,  '85,  '87,  '88,  '89,  '90.  Looking  over  the  others 
for  the  birth  of  Theophilus  Merriman  (claimed  by  Adams) 
I  could  find  no  trace  of  it.  On  14  Sept  1595  Margaret, 
daughter  of  John  Norman,  was  baptized.  On  April  1623 
I  found  the  record  that  Henry  Merriman  and  Sara  Allen 
were  married;  this  we  have  already  in  the  published  Maid- 
stone  marriages  which  has  the  words  "  of  Ashford  "  after 
the  name  of  Heniy  Merriman. 

Turning  next  to  the  Ashford  transcripts  I  found  only 
the  record  that  John  Maf  rimer  was  buried  22  Dec  1603. 

Cranbrook,  where  lived  George  Meriam  who  willed 
£100  to  his  grandson  Thomas  (see  abovee  Set.  7)  was  next 
examined.  Many  times  occur  the  names  Merriam,  Meriam, 
Merryam,  but  no  trace  of  Merriman.  George,  who  made 
the  will,  was  buried  18  Nov  1634.  Henry  Merryam,  as 
one  of  the  wardens  of  the  parish,  certified  for  many  years 
to  the  correctness  of  the  transcripts. 

These  transcripts  are  stored  in  the  Christchurchgate 
of  Canterbury  Cathedral,  but  are  now  in  charge  of  the 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  119 

town  clerk  Henry  Fielding,  No.  15  Burgate  Street,  who 
grants  permission  for  their  examination  on  payment  of  the 
usual  fees,  and  who  also  is  prepared  to  make  searches.  For 
some  parishes  these  transcripts  go  back  to  1540,  and  there 
are  none  of  a  date  later  than  1812. 

14.  WILLS  OF  THE  OLD  CANTERBURY  COURTS. 

Both  ecclesiastical  courts  had  jurisdiction  over  estates, 
but  the  will  of  a  testator  was  proved  in  only  one  court. 
Why  the  Diocesan  C.C.  or  A.C.,  rather  than  the  Preroga- 
tive Court  in  London,  should  be  selected  for  the  probate 
of  an  estate,  I  do  not  know.  Wills  of  this  C.C.  go  back  to 
1362  and  those  of  A.C.  to  1449,  and  both  originals  and 
recorded  copies  may  be  examined,  the  latter  being  usually 
preferable  on  account  of  the  more  legible  writing. 

Examining  the  indexes  of  the  C.C.  court  from  1580  to 
1640  I  found  no  Merrimans,  but  many  Merrihams  and 
Merriams.  In  the  A.C.  court,  however,  I  found  wills  of 
three  Merrimans,  as  follows: 

Roger  Meryman  of  Appledore;  will  made  20  May  1593  and 
proved  7  Nov  1595,  makes  bequests  to  his  son  William,  to 
his  daughters  Susanna,  Anna,  Ursula,  and  Mary,  and  to  his  wife 
Mary  who  is  made  executrix.  (Book  50,  p.  400.) 

Elizabeth  Merriman  of  Ewell,  will  made  13  March  1608  and 
proved  27  March  1609,  makes  bequests  to  the  poor,  to  her  sister 
Ellin  and  to  Richard  Tritton  who  is  executor  (Book  56,  p.  288). 

John  Merriman,  of  Harrietsham,  will  with  no  date  but  proved 
21  June  1631,  makes  bequests  to  his  daughter  Elizabeth,  to  his 
mother,  and  to  his  wife;  mention  is  made  of  goods  which  be- 
longed to  a  former  wife;  signed  by  mark.  (Book  68,  p.  72). 

These  records  of  wills  are  now  in  charge  of  the  Probate 
Registry  of  the  High  Court  of  Justice  in  Castle  Street, 
Canterbury.  The  official  who  attended  me  and  who  was 
very  expert  in  reading  the  old  writing  was  Ernst  Mowbry, 


120  ALLIED  PAPERS 

and  he  is  willing  to  make  further  searches.  The  old  wills 
are  in  bundles  which  lie  unprotected  from  dust  on  wooden 
shelves  in  a  small  building  in  the  yard  of  the  Office  of  the 
Court. 

Unfortunately  I  left  the  search  of  wills  until  the  last 
and  did  not  have  time  to  revisit  the  transcripts  of  parish 
registers  and  search  those  of  Appledore,  Ewell,  and  Harriet- 
sham.  But  this  can  be  done  later  by  correspondence  with 
Mr.  Fielding,  the  town  clerk  of  Canterbury. 

15.  TENTERDEN  RECORDS. 

St.  Mildred's  church  in  Tenterden  has  its  parish  register 
complete  back  to  1550,  but  the  records  prior  to  about  1650 
are  copies  of  older  ones.  Adams  says  that  Nathaniel  Merri- 
man  was  born  in  Tenterden  2  June  1613.  Notwithstanding 
that  the  college  of  Arms  reported  that  the  Tenterden  register 
does  not  contain  the  name  Merriman  and  notwithstanding 
that  I  could  not  find  it  in  the  Canterbury  transcript,  it 
seemed  best  to  visit  the  town  to  make  sure  and  also  to  verify 
the  Canterbury  entry  regarding  Nathaniel  Maro.  This 
appears  in  the  Tenterden  register  of  1614  as  "  Nathaniel 
Merre  sonn  of  Thomas  Merre  was  bapt  ye  xvi  day  of  Janr." 

Examination  of  other  years  failed  to  disclose  the  name 
Merriman.  Only  twice  did  I  see  the  name  Theophilus, 
namely  in  1610  and  1612  when  children  of  Theophilus  Tirke 
were  baptized.  If  a  Nathaniel  Merriman  was  born  in 
Tenterden,  there  is  no  record  of  his  baptism  in  the  parish, 
unless  it  be  that  the  word  "  Merre  "  in  the  record  of  16 
Jan  1614  is  a  contraction  for  Merriman.  Copyists  some- 
times make  errors  and  I  have  found  two  in  the  Canterbury 
transcripts;  unfortunately  the  Tenterden  record  of  1614 
is  itself  a  copy. 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  121 

1 6.  THE  MERRIAM  FAMILY. 

C.  H.  Pope  in  his  Genealogy  of  the  Merriam  family 
gives  many  records  from  the  County  of  Kent,  especially 
from  Hadlow,  Cranbrook  and  Canterbury.  Emigrating 
to  Massachusetts  in  1638  the  family  became  a  large  one 
in  America,  one  branch  settling  in  Meriden,  Conn.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  John  Merriam  married  Mary  Merri- 
man,  a  granddaughter  of  our  ancestor  Capt.  Nathaniel. 
In  Connecticut  the  two  names  were  generally  kept  quite 
distinct,  altho  a  few  instances  of  confusion  exist.  Pope 
in  his  book  makes  no  allusion  to  Merrimans  in  Kent,  and 
probably  there  the  names  were  rarely  confounded. 

Cranbrook  is  one  of  the  towns  where  the  Merriam 
families  flourished.  One  afternoon,  while  stopping  at 
Tenterden,  we  drove  to  Cranbrook  over  undulating  hills 
and  past  large  fields  of  hops.  The  churchyard  contained 
no  stones  with  the  word  Merriam  thereon,  but  there  were 
few  dates  later  than  1800  that  were  legible.  Gravestones 
in  Kent  seem  to  deteriorate  much  more  rapidly  than  in 
Connecticut,  and  many  inscriptions  of  1850  can  scarcely 
be  read.  As  there  is  no  evidence  that  any  Merriman  ever 
resided  at  Cranbrook  I  did  not  deem  it  worth  while  to  exam- 
ine the  parish  register,  especially  as  the  Canterbury  tran- 
script has  been  seen. 

17.  MAIDSTONE,  KENT. 

On  the  bank  of  the  Medway,  surrounded  by  beautiful 
gardens,  lies  that  great  pile  of  buildings  known  as  All  Saints 
College  and  Church  of  Maidstone.  Examining  the  parish 
register  of  baptisms  from  1570  to  1595  I  was  unable  to 
discover  the  name  of  Merriman,  altho  several  Meryhams 
and  Meriams  were  seen.  If,  as  Adams  asserts,  a  child 
name  Theophilus  Merriman  was  born  in  Maidstone  between 


122  ALLIED  PAPERS 

these  years,  the  record  of  his  baptism  could  not  be  found 
in  the  register  of  All  Saints.  Nor  did  I  see  any  name  resem- 
bling Merriman,  except  that  of  Margaret  Meneman  who, 
was  christened  6  Nov  1570;  probably  however,  this  was 
meant  for  Newman,  a  name  that  occurs  several  times  later. 
The  entire  register  prior  to  1600  is  in  the  same  hand- 
writing, showing  that  it  is  a  copy  of  former  records.  The 
verger  of  All  Saints,  who  is  prepared  to  make  further  searches, 
is  S.  Shaw,  Kenwrst,  King  Edward  Road,  Maidstone. 

18.  THE  ROCHESTER  DIOCESAN  RECORDS. 

The  western  part  of  Kent  county  is  in  the  diocese  of 
Rochester.  In  ancient  times  there  was  at  Rochester  a  Con- 
sistory Court  and  an  Archdeacons  Court,  each  of  which 
had  jurisdiction  over  estates  and  in  each  of  which  wills  were 
proved  and  recorded.  On  inquiry  at  the  Diocesan  Registry 
Office  I  found  that  no  records  regarding  wills  were  there, 
all  having  been  transferred  to  Somerset  House  in  London 
several  years  ago. 

Transcripts  of  parish  registers  were  also  annually  made 
to  these  courts  but  none  earlier  than  1700  are  now  extant, 
they  having  been  destroyed  by  the  vicissitudes  of  war  and 
fire. 

The  present  register  office  is  in  charge  of  Arnold,  Day 
and  Tuff,  and  located  in  a  small  building  near  the  cathe- 
dral door.  To  show  that  the  world  is  very  small,  I  may 
note  that  the  official  who  attended  to  my  inquiries  is 
acquainted  with  our  kinsman  Prof.  Roger  B.  Merriman  of 
Harvard.  He  told  me  that  a  book  on  the  Rochester  Paro- 
chial Registers,  by  W.  E.  Buckland,  had  been  published 
in  1912. 

19.  STROOD  IN  KENT. 

Strood  is  a  suburb  of  Rochester.     Recalling  that  Thomas 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  123 

Merriman,  who  died  intestate  in  1653  was  of  that  parish, 
I  went  there  but  did  not  succeed  in  examining  the  register. 
I  found,  however,  an  antiquarian  named  Henry  Smetham 
at  99  High  Street,  who  has  searched  all-  the  ancient  records 
and  has  written  a  History  of  Strood.  He  told  me  that  the 
register  of  the  parish  church  goes  back  to  1567.  He  also 
mentioned  that  there  was  another  parish  called  Strood  or 
Stroud  near  Ashford  in  Kent  County.  I  recall,  however, 
that  when  at  Canterbury  I  could  find  no  transcripts  of 
the  register  of  a  parish  of  this  name. 

One  week  in  Kent  has  furnished  no  information  regard- 
ing Theophilus  or  George  Merriman,  yet  the  time  spent 
has  been  well  worth  while,  for  we  now  see  where  the  records 
are,  and  are  in  a  position  to  have  further  searches  made. 
We  return  to  London  with  only  a  faint  hope  that  some 
fact  may  be  yet  discovered  there. 

20.  IMPERFECTIONS  OF  LONDON  RECORDS. 

George  Merriman,  father  of  Nathaniel,  was  undoubt- 
edly over  sixty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1655  or  1656.  Records  prior  to  that  date  are  imperfect 
owing  to  the  great  fire  of  1666  when  many  of  the  London 
churches  were  destroyed,  only  22  out  of  108  escaping  injury. 
Had  the  baptisms  of  George  and  Nathaniel  been  recorded 
in  parish  registers  they  might  have  been  destroyed  in  that 
fire. 

The  records  of  the  freeman  of  the  city  prior  to  1786  are 
also  very  imperfect  owing  to  a  fire  which  occurred  that  year 
in  the  Guildhall.  A  partial  list  of  those  admitted  freemen 
between  the  years  1524  and  1553  has,  however,  been  pre- 
served, and  it  was  published  by  the  London  and  Middlesex 
Archaeological  Society,  edited  by  Charles  Welch,  in  1908. 
A  list  of  the  members  of  the  guild  companies  for  1537  is 


124  ALLIED  PAPERS 

also  given  in  Thomas  Allen's  History  of  London  (1828), 
there  being  63  names  under  the  Cooper  Company.  These 
dates  are  too  early  to  give  records  of  George  Merriman, 
and  no  name  resembling  Merriman  or  Norman  is  found 
in  the  lists. 

During  the  Cromwellian  period,  1650-1660,  a  destruc- 
tion or  suppression  of  parish  registers  occurred  in  some 
parts  of  England.  The  dissenting  movement,  which  began 
shortly  before  1600,  also  caused  an  imperfection  in  the 
regular  parish  registers.  It  is  however,  highly  probable 
that  the  baptism  and  marriage  of  George  Merriman  were 
duly  recorded,  but  perhaps  no  record  of  the  baptism  of 
Nathaniel  was  ever  made  in  a  register  of  the  established 
church  on  account  of  the  change  of  religious  opinion  by  his 
father. 

21.  OTHER  WILLS  IN  LONDON. 

Returning  from  Kent  on  August  13,  I  found  that  G.  F. 
M.  Merriman  had  looked  up  several  wills  in  the  Archdeaconry 
and  Consistory  Courts  of  London.  One  of  these  was  the 
will  of  Robert  Merriman,  a  citizen  and  brewer  of  London, 
proved  in  1636.  As  the  trades  of  brewer  and  cooper  are 
connected  ones,  it  might  be  conjectured  that  Robert  was  an 
uncle  or  brother  of  our  ancestor  George,  but  the  will  gives 
no  evidence  thereof,  the  only  names  mentioned  being  those 
of  his  wife  and  brother. 

Going  again  to  Somerset  House  I  consulted  the  index 
to  the  wills  of  Rochester  Diocese  but  found  only  one  that 
could  be  of  our  name.  In  1591  a  will  was  made  at  Yaldinge 
in  Kent  by  a  man  styled  "  Thomas  Coveney  als  Myrryman  " 
which  devised  property  to  his  son  Robert  and  his  grandson 
William.  While  this  is  indexed  under  Myrryman  there 
is  a  cross  reference  to  Coveney.  I  understand  that  the 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  125 

"  als  "  is  an  abbreviation  for  alias;  if  so  we  here  see  the  name 
Merriman  "  in  the  making,"  the  man  Coveney  being  per- 
haps of  a  disposition  so  jo.vial  that  he  had  long  been  known 
as  Merryman.  I  now  recall  that  the  Rouge  Croix  of  the 
College  of  Arms  suggested  that  the  name  might  have 
originated  independently  in  different  parts  of  England 
during  the  fifteenth  century  or  earlier.  An  instance  of  later 
change  is  that  of  the  Irish  poet  Brian  Merriman  (1757-1808) 
whose  true  name  was  probably  MacConmara,  and  who 
was  a  good  fiddler  and  true  merry  man. 

Also  I  inquired  at  Somerset  House  regarding  the  Glou- 
cestershire wills,  of  which  mention  is  made  in  Sect.  8  above, 
and  found  that  they  are  either  at  Bristol  or  Gloucester. 
At  Somerset  House,  however,  are  the  records  of  several 
courts  in  which  wills  of  London  Merrimans  may  have  been 
proved.  G.  F.  M.  Merriman  gives  the  following  lists  of 
such  courts:  Essex  and  Herts  Commissary,  Westminster 
Peculiar,  Middlesex  Archdeacon's  Court,  London  Com- 
missary, London  Consistory,  London  Archdeacons,  Lon- 
don Dean  and  Chapter,  and  London  St.  Katharine  by 
Tower  Peculiar. 

22.  BEVERSTON,  GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 

In  American  Ancestry,  vol.  9,  is  a  statement  that  The- 
ophilus  Merriman,  the  supposed  father  of  Nathaniel,  was 
born  in  Beverston.  This  place  is  not  far  from  County 
Oxford  in  which  the  Merriman  family  is  supposed  to  have 
originated.  We  have  the  report  of  the  Rouge  Croix  of  the 
College  of  Arms,  that  his  extracts  from  the  Beverston 
registers  do  not  contain  the  name  Merriman.  Also  we 
have  a  letter  from  the  vicar  of  Beverston  parish,  written 
to  Prof.  George  B.  Merriman  on  5  Sept  1912,  saying  that  he 
has  examined  the  baptismal  register  from  1570  to  1604 


126  ALLIED  PAPERS 

and  that  it  does  not  contain  the  name  Merriman  or  anything 
like  it.  Accordingly  it  does  not  seem  necessary  to  go  to 
Beverston  to  make  further  inquiries. 

23.  LAST  DAY  OF  LONDON  SEARCH;    A  DISCOVERY. 

August  1 6  was  assigned  as  the  last  day  of  my  London 
work.  I  went  again  to  the  Cooper  Company  to  make 
further  inquiries,  but  the  clerk  Mr.  Boyer  was  absent  and 
hence  no  progress  could  be  made.  I  went  also  to  the  Public 
Record  Office  and  to  the  British  Museum  to  connect  some 
scattered  points. 

On  glancing  at  Water's  Genealogical  Gleanings  in  England, 
I  found  a  statement  which  afforded  me  some  consolation. 
It  seems  that  James  Savage,  the  distinguished  genealogical 
authority  of  New  York,  was  so  desirous  of  finding  informa- 
tion regarding  the  parentage  of  the  founder  of  Harvard 
College  that  he  made  a  trip  to  England  for  that  special 
purpose,  but  without  success,  and  he  said  that  he  would 
gladly  have  given  five  hundred  dollars  for  five  lines  of  any 
information  relating  to  the  birth  of  John  Harvard.  Forty 
years  later  Waters  came  to  England,  found  the  wills  of 
John  Harvard's  father  and  uncles,  the  record  of  his  baptism 
and  much  other  information. 

If  I  have  failed  in  this  search  for  records  regarding  George 
and  Nathaniel  Merriman,  perhaps  later  some  one  may  follow 
who  will  succeed.  When  the  right  clue  is  found  the  rest 
will  not  be  difficult.  At  present  it  seems  to  me  that  there 
are  no  indications  at  all  of  clues  in  the  directions  of  Kent. 

Thus  musing,  I  took  from  the  shelves  several  volumes 
of  the  "  Calendar  of  State  Papers,  Domestic  Series,  of  the 
Reigns  of  Elizabeth  and  James  I."  These  volumes  are 
undoubtedly  in  the  Public  Library  of  New  York,  but  I  had 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  127 

never  consulted  them.  In  the  volume  designated  as 
"  Addenda,  1580-1625,"  I  found  on  page  373  a  reference  to 
George  Merryman.  It  seems  that  on  10  July  1595  a  lease 
was  made  by  the  "  Governors  of  Little  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  West  Smithfield,  to  Wm.  Burcher  of  London,  of  a 
tenement  in  the  occupation  of  George  Merryman,  in  West 
Smithfield,  between  the  messuage  of  Burcher  on  the  south 
and  the  tenement  of  Nicholas  Burton  on  the  north,  for  21 
years;  rental  3/  a  year;  fine45/."  Here  is  most  probably  a 
direct  reference  to  our  ancestor,  showing  the  location  of  his 
home  in  1595.  It  seems  to  lead  to  the  conclusion  that 
George  Merryman  was  at  least  21  years  old  in  1595  and 
hence  that  he  was  more  than  82  years  old  when  he  died 
in  1655  or  1656. 

24.  WEST  SMITHFIELD,  LONDON. 

St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  and  the  churches  of  St. 
Bartholomew  the  Great  and  St.  Bartholomew  the  Less 
border  on  the  square  of  West  Smithfield,  where  once  martyrs 
were  burned.  Nearby  is  Hozier  Lane  where  John  Norman 
lived  (see  Sec.  4  above).  Considering  the  lease  of  1595, 
it  seemed  to  me  that  since  George  Merriman  was  a  tenant 
of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  he  might  also  be  connected 
with  the  church  of  St.  Bartholomew  the  Less  which  is  now 
within  the  hospital  precincts.  Accordingly  I  went  there 
at  once  and  consulted  its  registers  which  date  from  1545. 
The  list  of  baptisms  contains  no  Merriman  name  between 
the  years  1570  and  1580  nor  between  the  years  1607  and  1615, 
the  list  of  marriages  has  none  in  the  years  1590-1600,  and  the 
list  of  burials  none  in  1655  or  1656.  However  I  saw  the 
entries  "13  Sept  1612  Mary  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Hall 
gent  was  baptised  "  and  also  "19  Sept  1613  Martha  daughter 
of  Nathaniel  Hall  gent  was  baptised."  Perhaps  this 


128  ALLIED  PAPERS 

"  gent  "  might  have  been  the  father  of  John  Hall,  one  of 
the  founders  of  Wallingford,  from  whom  I  am  also 
descended. 

Going  next  to  the  church  of  St.  Bartholomew  the  Great 
(see  Sect.  5  above)  I  found  that  it  has  no  registers  earlier 
than  1616  and  that  no  record  of  George  Merriman  occurs 
in  the  years  1655  or  1656.  This  church  has  an  index  to  its 
registers  for  the  years  1616-1647,  and  glancing  over  the 
M's  I  saw  no  name  like  Merriman.  A  name  in  the  burial 
list,  however,  attracted  my  attention;  it  was  that  of  "  Lady 
Elizabeth  Mansfield."  Perhaps  here  again  is  one  of  my 
ancestors. 

Leaving  London  on  20  August  I  have  confidence  that  a 
clue  has  at  last  been  found  which  may  lead  to  important 
discoveries;  when  we  return  a  month  later,  the  trail  shall 
be  resumed. 

Regarding  the  Theophilus  story  mentioned  at  the 
beginning  of  these  notes,  not  a  trace  of  that  name  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Merriman  family  has  been  found.  It  seems 
very  probable  that  the  story  was  invented  by  a  fake  geneal- 
ogist of  London  in  reply  to  inquiries  made  by  Adams  or 
his  uncle.  At  any  rate  it  is  very  certain  that  descendants 
of  Nathaniel  who  have  adopted  that  myth  as  a  fact  should 
be  put  on  their  guard  against  giving  it  further  credence. 
George,  a  citizen  and  cooper  of  London,  was  undoubtedly 
Nathaniel's  father,  and  I  hope  that  further  search  may 
bring  to  light  a  record  of  the  name  of  his  grandfather. 

25.  THE  FOOTSTOOL. 

Returning  to  London  on  Sept  17,  I  found  a  letter  from 
Thomas  Hayes,  Clerk  to  the  Governors  of  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital,  kindly  inviting  me  to  call  upon  him.  Doing 
so  I  found  that  he  had  discovered  two  records  regarding 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  129 

George  Merry  man.  The  first  on  19  Jan  1593  (that  is, 
1594)  said  that  an  application  had  been  made  by  him  "  for 
a  lease  of  the  house  wherein  he  dwellethe  sometyme  in 
the  tenure  of  Singleton  ";  then  follow  the  conditions  under 
which  he  may  have  a  lease.  The  second,  dated  13  April 
1594,  says  that  he  this  day  "  made  further  seute  for  a  lease 
of  the  Tenement  wherein  he  dwelleth  in  West  Smithfield  "; 
then  follow  conditions  for  such  a  lease. 

It  appears  that  George  Merryman  did  not  accept  these 
conditions,  for  on  10  July  1595  the  tenement  was  leased 
for  21  years  to  Wm.  Burcher  (see  Calendar  of  State  Papers, 
Domestic  Series,  1580-1625,  page  373.)  On  the  back  of 
the  lease  is  the  endorsement  (evidently  by  Burcher)  "  my 
lease  of  the  tenement  called  the  Foolstool." 

This  name  leads  to  the  surmise  that  the  tenement  was 
used  as  a  coffee-house  or  inn.  Examining  several  books 
q  give  names  of  the  inns  and  coffee-houses  of  that  period, 
which  I  fail,  however,  to  find  the  name  Footstool. 

26.  MERRIMANS  IN  THE  COOPER  COMPANY. 

Having  obtained  permission  of  the  Court  of  the  Wor- 
shipful Company  of  Coopers  to  examine  its  records,  I  find 
George  Merryman  mentioned  six  times,  William  Merryman 
five  times,  and  John  Merriman  three  times.  All  three 
were  certainly  freemen  of  the  Cooper  Company. 

George  Merryman  is  mentioned  twice  as  having  paid 
20  pence  for  apprentices  which  were  assigned  to  him:  27 
July  1635  John  Roman  was  assigned  to  him  as  apprentice 
for  eight  years;  16  Nov  1638  Willaim  Myles  for  eight 
years;  On  4  Oct  1610  he  paid  33  4d  for  "  his  hubley  by 
Taxhall  worter."  In  1656  and  1658  there  are  notes  regard- 
ing his  arrearages  of  dues,  it  being  evidently  not  known 
that  he  had  died;  one  of  these  is  crossed  off  with  red  ink. 


130  ALLIED  PAPERS 

An  important  record  is  5  Feb  1656  when  "  John  Merriman 
had  turned  over  to  him  Henry  Allison  .  .  .  formerly 
apprentice  of  George  Merriman."  This  shows  that  George 
Merriman  died  before  5  Feb  1656. 

William  Merryman  is  mentioned  as  paying  20  pence 
each  for  apprentices  for  seven  and  eight  years  on  i  Jan 
1633,  4  May  1638,  21  April  1640,  23  July  1640,  and  once 
as  having  paid  33  4d  through  Robert  Nobolot. 

John  Meriman  had  an  apprentice  assigned  to  him  for 
7  years  on  5  Feb  1655  (1656),  after  he  had  succeeded  to  his 
father's  business,  and  also  he  is  mentioned  in  a  ledger  of 
accounts. 

"  London  Citizens  in  1651  "  by  J.  C.  and  W.  Whitebrook 
is  the  title  of  a  small  book  published  in  1909.  It  has  a 
"  List  of  the  Livery  "  of  22  Companies.  Under  the  Cooper 
Company  are  49  names,  among  which  are  John  Norman 
and  Alexander  Norman,  but  no  Merrimans.  Hence  George 
Merriman  and  William  Merriman  were  not  liverymen  of 
the  Company,  but  only  freemen. 

The  minute  book  of  the  Cooper  Company  for  the  years 
1597  to  1608  could  not  be  found  in  September  1913.  My 
examination  included  the  years  1592-1596  and  1609-1656. 
The  clerk  kindly  promises  to  make  further  searches.  It 
is  highly  probable  that  the  name  of  the  father  of  George 
Merriman  can  be  found  somewhere  in  these  records.  The 
usual  form  for  the  record  of  an  apprenticeship  was  the 
following:  "  Reed  of  Thomas  Jones  for  prenticing  Alexander 
Hall,  son  of  William  Hall  of  Stratford,  county  of  Warwick, 
husbandman,  for  eight  years  .  .  .  xxd  "  Hence  if  George 
Merryman  was  admitted  to  the  Cooper  Company  by  virtue 
of  an  apprenticeship,  the  name,  residence,  and  occupation 
of  his  father  will  be  found  recorded.  A  boy  was  usually 
apprenticed  about  the  age  of  ten,  so  that  if  George  Merry- 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND  131 

man  was  82  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  date  of  his  appren- 
ticeship might  have  been  about  1584,  and  the  date  of  his 
obtaining  freedom  about  1592.  It  has  been  shown  above, 
however,  that  a  man  named  George  Merryman,  was  a  house- 
keeper, and  hence  probably  a  freeman,  in  the  year  1594. 

There  were  two  other  ways  of  becoming  a  member  of  a 
Livery  Company,  namely  by  Patrimony  and  by  Redemption. 
By  Patrimony,  a  man  might  claim  admission  because  his 
father  was  a  member  when  he  was  born.  By  Redemption 
he  paid  a  considerable  sum  of  money  in  lieu  of  either  appren- 
ticeship or  Patrimony.  These  three  methods  of  becoming 
a  member  prevail  at  the  present  day,  altho  of  course  the 
apprenticeship  is  a  fictitious  one.  In  either  of  the  three 
methods  the  assent  of  the  Court  is  required  and  a  record 
is  made. 

The  membership  of  the  Cooper  Company  in  the  i6th 
Century,  and  now,  consists  of  three  classes,  apprentices, 
freemen,  and  liverymen.  Only  the  third  class  can  wear 
a  certain  kind  of  decoration  and  be  eligible  for  office.  The 
freemen  have  no  vote  and  rarely  attend  meetings,  but  pay 
small  yearly  dues,  and  can  employ  apprentices  with  the 
permission  of  the  Court.  It  has  been  shown  that  George 
Merryman  was  a  freeman  but  that  probably  he  was  never 
a  liveryman  of  the  Cooper  Company. 

27.  NATHANIEL  MERRIMAN'S  GRANDFATHER. 

Now,  November  1913,  six  weeks  after  arrival  in  New 
York,  I  am  able  to  give  definite  information  regarding  the 
grandfather  of  Nathaniel  and  the  first  connection  of  George 
Merriman  with  the  Cooper  Company.  It  will  be  remem- 
bered that  my  search  in  September,  at  the  hall  of  the 
Worshipful  Company  of  Coopers,  did  not  cover  the 
minutes  of  its  court  for  1597-1608,  as  these  could  not  then 


132  ALLIED  PAPERS 

be  found.  An  examination  of  those  minutes  has  since 
been  kindly  made  by  the  Clerk,  Edward  Lawrance  Boyer, 
Esq.,  who  reports  under  date  of  24  October  1913,  that  he 
has  found  an  entry  which  is  the  earliest  record  of  the  name  of 
George  Merriman.  This  entry  is  in  the  minutes  of  a 
Court  "  held  on  Thirdsay  the  xixth  day  of  June  1606  "  and 
is  as  follows: 

"This  day  Raphaell  Waiter  brought  into  this  Court  one 
George  Merryman  the  sonne  of  Gregory  Meryman  of  Whytney 
in  the  county  of  Oxon  Weav  and  psented  him  heare  has 
desired  this  Company  to  take  notice  of  an  Indenture  of 
Appnticep  dated  the  xviijth  day  of  ffebruary  1598  whereby 
the  said  George  was  bound  unto  him  for  ix  yeares  from  the 
day  of  the  date  of  said  Indenture  and  submitted  himself  to  the 
censure  of  the  table  for  binding  him  forth  of  his  howse  who 
in  regard  of  his  posstye  and  subission  forgave  his  fyne  and 
tooke  onely  of  hym  in  the  respect  of  the  pntemt  .  .  .  xx  d." 

It  is  my  understanding  that,  in  accordance  with  the 
usual  practise  in  those  days,  this  George  was  about  ten 
years  old  in  1598,  whereas  the  George  who  occupied  the 
tenement  in  West  Smithrleld  must  have  probably  been  at 
least  21  years  old  in  1595.  It  seems  evident,  however, 
that  the  George  to  whom  the  above  minute  relates  was  that 
George  whose  name  appears  later  on  the  books  of  the  Cooper 
Company  and  whose  will  of  1655  mentions  his  son  Nathaniel 
as  being  then  in  New  England. 

If  these  Georges  were  different  men  there  is  nothing 
further  known  regarding  the  elder  one.  But  there  is  a 
possibility  that  the  records  may  refer  to  one  and  the  same 
man,  for  the  above  minute  indicates  that  there  was  some 
irregularity  regarding  the  apprentiship.  Raphael  Warter, 
it  seems,  did  not  report  the  apprentiship  until  nearly  eight 
years  after  the  indenture  of  1598  (1599),  but  had  bound 
George  "  forth  of  his  howse."  Perhaps,  therefore,  George 


SEARCHES  IN  ENGLAND 


133 


was  older  than  ten  years  in  1599,  old  enough  perhaps  to 
have  charge  of  the  tenement  in  West  Smithfield  in  1595. 
Further  research  may  possibly  find  records  which  will  give 
fuller  details  in  this  case  and  also  facts  regarding  the 
William  Merryman  who  was  also  a  freeman  of  the  Cooper 
Company. 

From  all  the  evidence  now  in  hand  I  conclude  that 
Gregory  Merryman,  a  weaver,  who  died  at  Whytney  (now 
Witney)  in  the  county  of  Oxford  about  1596  was  the  father 
of  George  Merriman,  the  citizen  and  cooper  of  London 
who  died  in  1655,  and  hence  the  grandfather  of  Nathaniel 
Merriman  who  was  the  first  of  the  Merriman  name  in 
America.  The  following  table  shows  the  connection  between 
the  English  and  American  branches  of  Merrimans: 

Thomas  Merriman ' 
weaver,  of  County  Oxford 
died  1 559 


Greg 
weaver,  of 
died  1596 

ory  =  Maria         [?Ja 
Witney 

mes] 

[?Jo 
of 
Co. 

hn] 

Newbury 
Berks 

Geo 
cooper,  of 
died 

rge                                   Thomas 
London                                    of 
1655                            died  1640 

=  Alice        He 
Newbury       of 
died 

nry 
Newbu 
1640 

Natha 
of  Wai 
born 
died 

niel 
lingford 
1613 
1694 

Eliz 

abeth 
Jo 

Thorn 
tin          of  N 
died 

as          Jo 

ewbury 
1662 

hn* 
d 

thr 
aug 

ee 
liters 

*  This  John  was  a  captain  in  the  commonwealth  army  in 
1651.  He  is  supposed  to  have  married  a  daughter  of  Goffe, 
the  regicide.  The  Merrimans  of  Marl  borough  are  descended 
from  his  children. 


PART  III 
GENEALOGY 


135 


A  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY  FOR  FIVE  GENERA- 
TIONS COMMENCING  WITH  NATHANIEL 

BY  DONALD  LINES  JACOBUS,  M.A. 
Tenth  in  Descent  from  Nathaniel  through  his  daughter  Abigail 


FIRST   GENERATION 


i.  NATHANIEL1  MERRIMAN  was  born  in  England  about 
1613,  came  to  Boston  in  1632,  served  in  the  Pequot  war  of 
1637,  lived  in  New  Haven  from  1640  to  1670,  then  became 
one  of  the  principal  founders  of  Wallingford,  Conn,  where 
he  died  13  Feb  169!.*  He  was  Ensign  of  the  military  com- 
pany in  New  Haven,  lieutenant  of  that  in  Wallingford,  and 
was  appointed  a  Captain  to  raise  troops  for  King  Philips 
War  of  1675.  He  was  town  clerk  of  Wallingford  for  eight 
years,  selectman  for  five  years,  and  was  nine  times  a  deputy 
from  Wallingford  to  the  General  Court  of  the  Colony  of 

*  Refer  to  other  pages  of  this  volume  for  fuller  details: 

Ancestry  and  parentage,  pages  32-36,  107-133. 
Voyage  to  America,  pages  37,  41-43,  47- 
Service  in  Pequot  war,  pages  43,  44,  64,  70-76. 
Life  at  New  Haven,  pages  45-56,  64. 
Life  at  Wallingford,  pages  64-69,  73,  95-103. 
Service  in  King  Philip's  war,  pages  65-67,  70-76. 
Will  and  estate,  pages  31,  77-82. 
Children  and  grandchildren,  pages  56,  57-59,  139-146. 

137 


138  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

Connecticut.    He  married  Joan ,  who  was  born  about 

1628  and  died  in  Wallingford  8  Dec  1709.  Lieut.  Nathaniel 
Merriman,  in  his  will  of  6  June  1692,  mentions  his  wife 
Joane;  sons  John,  Samuel,  and  Caleb;  daughter  Mary 
Curtis;  and  surviving  daughters  (New  Haven  Probate, 
vol.  2,  p.  146). 

Children,  all  born  in  New  Haven: 

NATHANIEL*,  born  about  1647  (continued  below,  No.  a) 

JOHN,  born  about  1649,  died  26  Sept  1651. 

HANNAH,  born  16  May  1651.    (No.  3) 

ABIGAIL,  born  18  April  1654.    (No.  4) 

MARY,  born  12  July  1657.    (No.  5) 

JOHN,  born  29  Feb  1659/60.    (No.  6) 

SAMUEL,  born  29  Sept  1662.    (No.  7) 

CALEB,  born  May  1665.    (No.  8) 

TWIN  SONS,  born  1667,  died  young. 

ELIZABETH,  born  14  Sept  1669.    (No.  9) 


SECOND  GENERATION 


2.  NATHANIEL2     MERRiMAN,    son    of    Nathaniel1    (see 
No.  i),  was  born,  probably  at  New  Haven,  about    1647. 
He  was  made  a  freeman  of  New  Haven  in  Oct  1669  and 
had  land  assigned  to  him  the  following  year  at  Wallingford. 
He  was  killed  in  King  Philip's  war  19  Dec  1675  in  the 
attack  on  the  Indian  fort  in  Rhode  Island.    On  26  June 
1685  the  town  of  Wallingford  voted  ten  acres  of  land  to  his 
brothers.    He  left  no  issue.    On  i  April  1688  Nathanael 
Merriman  sold  to  James  Heaton  "  with  the  full  and  free 
consent  of  my  sons  John  Samuell  and  Caleb  all  the  accomo- 
dations  of  land  that  was  reputed  to  be  my  son  Nathaniel 
Merriman  now  deceased  his  accomodations  of  land  being 
within  the  bounds  of  Wallingford  "  (New  Haven  Deeds,  vol. 
i,  p.  787). 

3.  HANNAH2    MERRIMAN,  daughter  of  Nathaniel1  (No. 
i)  was  born  at  New  Haven  16  May  1651;  married  first,  at 
New  Haven  12  Nov  1668  JOHN  IVES,  son  of  William  and 
Hannah  Ives,  who  was  baptized  at  New  Haven  29  Dec 
1644  and  died  at  Wallingford  in  1682;  married  second,  at 
Wallingford  17  Aug  1682  JOSEPH  BENHAM,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Winifred  Benham,  who  was  born  at  New  Haven  25 
May  1659  and  died  at  Wallingford  in  1702.    All  children 
except  the  first  were  born  at  Wallingford. 

Children  by  first  husband: 

JOHN  J  IVES,  born  14  Nov  1660,  died  at  Wallingford  15  April 
1747;  married  6  Dec.  1693  Mary  Gillette. 


140  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

HANNAH  IVES,  born  1672;  married  3  March  1692  Samuel  Cook. 

JOSEPH  IVES,  born  14  Oct  1674,  died  at  Cheshire  18  May  1755; 
married  n  May  1697  Esther  Benedict  who  was  born  about 
1679  and  died  i  Jan.  1752. 

NATHANIEL  IVES,  born  30  May  1677,  died  6  Nov  1711;  mar- 
ried 5  April  1699  Mary  Cook;  she  married  (2)  29  March  1722 
Jonathan  Penfield. 

GIDEON  IVES,  born  about  1680;  married  Mary  Royce  who 
died  15  Oct  1745;  he  was  an  Ensign. 

Children  by  second  husband: 

MARY  BENHAM,  born  18  May  1683,  married  Thomas  Yale. 

JOSEPH  BENHAM,  born  15  Dec  1685,  married  (i)  Hope  Cook; 
married  (2)  Mary  Curtis. 

ABIGAIL  BENHAM,  born  14  April  1688,  married  Samuel  Durham 
of  Guilford. 

4.  ABIGAIL  2  MERRIMAN,  daughter  of  Nathaniel l  (No.  i), 
was  born  at  New  Haven  18  April  1654,  died  at  Walling- 
ford; married  at  New  Haven  18  Jan  1670  JOHN  HITCHCOCK, 
son  of  Matthias  and  Elizabeth  Hitchcock  of  New  Haven, 
who  died  at  Wallingford  6  July  1716.  He  married  for  his 
second  wife  Mary  (Thompson)  Lines,  widow  of  Samuel 
Lines,  and  she  married  third,  18  April  1717  Samuel  Clark. 

Children:  probably  all  born  in  Wallingford: 
;    A  DAUGHTER*,  born  i  Oct  1671,  died  young. 

SAMUEL  HITCHCOCK,  born  1672,  died  young. 

ABIGAIL  HITCHCOCK,  born  10  April  1674,  died  9  Jan  1726; 
married,  14  Dec  1693,  Jacob  Johnson,  who  was  born  25  Sept 
1674  and  died  26  July  1749. 

MARY  HITCHCOCK,  born  10  Dec  1676;  married  Benjamin 
Beach  of  Hanover,  N.  J. 

NATHANIEL  HITCHCOCK,  born  18  April  1679,  died  12  May 
1710;  married  5  April  1704  Sarah  Lewis  Jennings;  she  married 
(2)  12  July  1711  John  Johnson. 


SECOND  GENERATION  141 

MARGERY  HITCHCOCK,  born  g  Sept  1681,  died  before  1764; 
married  (i)  10  March  1700  Joseph  Munson  who  was  born 
6  Nov  1677  and  died  30  April  1725;  she  married  (2)  before  1728, 
Stephen  Peck. 

ELIZABETH  HITCHCOCK,  born  8  April  1684,  died  young. 

JOHN  HITCHCOCK,  born  18  Oct  1685,  died  22  May  1760;  mar- 
ried (i)  21  Nov  1712  Marlow  Munson  who  was  born  15  Feb 
1694,  died  i  July  1739;  he  married  (2)  29  Nov  1739  Elizabeth 
Chatterton  who  died  4  May  1788. 

MATTHIAS  HITCHCOCK,  born  26  May  1688,  died  about  1763; 
married  (i)  27  Dec  1710  Thankful  Andrews;  married  (2)  Deborah 
(Barnes)Tuttle  widow  of  Josiah  Tuttle,  who  was  born  i  Feb  1698; 
married  (3)  10  Jan  1754  widow  Sarah  Hough. 

HANNAH  HITCHCOCK,  born  9  Jan  1691,  died  young. 

DAMARIS  HITCHCOCK,  born  n  July  1693,  died  10  Nov  1731; 
married  22  April  1717  Sylvanus  Clark  who  was  born  i  Feb  1692, 
died  1741. 

BENJAMIN  HITCHCOCK,  born  24  March  1696,  died  12  Feb  1767; 
married  i  Oct  1718  Elizabeth  Ives  who  died  8  Aug  1762. 

5.  MARY  2  MERRIMAN,  daughter  of  Nathaniel l  (No.  i), 
was  born  at  New  Haven  12  July  1657,  baptized  there  27 
June  1661;  married  at  Wallingford  9  June  1674  THOMAS 
CURTIS,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Welles)  Curtis,  who 
was  born  at  Stratford,  Conn,  14  Jan  1648. 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford,: 

MARYS  CURTIS,  born  13  Oct  1675,  married  John  Crain. 

NATHANIEL  CURTIS,  born  14  May  1677;  married  (i)  Sarah 
Hall  who  died  13  Dec  1700;  (2)  Sarah  How  9  July  1702;  who 
died  4  Jan.  1740;  (3)  Mrs.  Phebe  Palmer  u  Oct  1641  who  died 
5  Jan  1763.  He  died  4  March  1763. 

SAMUEL  CURTIS,  born  3  Feb  1678;  married  Elizabeth  Fredericks 
3  Jan  1705. 

ELIZABETH  CURTIS,  born  n  Sept  1680,  married  Nathaniel 
Hall  ii  May  1699,  died  30  Sept  1735. 


142  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

HANNAH  CURTIS,  born  3  Dec.  1682,  died  12  Oct  1703. 

THOMAS  CURTIS,  born  26  Aug  1685,  married  Mary . 

SARAH  CURTIS,  born  i  Oct.  1687,  married  Joseph  Parker  17 
June  1705. 

ABIGAIL  CURTIS,  born  3  Nov  1689,  married  Joseph  Holt  8 
June  1709,  died  12  Jan  1730. 

JOSEPH  CURTIS,  born  i  Oct  1691,  married  Martha  Collins 
14  Mar  1712,  died  Jan  1756. 

JEMIMA  CURTIS,  born  15  Jan  1694,  married  Nathaniel  Beach 
29  Sept  1712. 

REBECCA  CURTIS,  born  21  Aug  1697,  married  (i)  Lambert 
Johnson  i  March  1716,  (2)  William  Munson. 

JOHN  CURTIS,  born  18  Sept  1699,  married  Jemima  Abernathy 
17  June  1723,  died  4  April  1775. 

6.  JOHN2  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Nathaniel l  (No.  i),  was  born 
at  New  Haven  29  Feb  1659/60,  died  at  Wallingford  1741; 
married  first,  at  Wallingford  28  March  1683  Hannah  Lines, 
daughter  of  Ralph  and  Alice  Lines,  who  was  born  at  New 
Haven  21  Nov  1665,  died  at  Wallingford  about  1688; 
married  second,  at  Wallingford  20  Nov  1690  Elizabeth 
Peck,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Moss)  Peck,  who  was 
born  29  Dec  1673,  died  at  Wallingford  after  1709;  married 
third^ after  1720,  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Street  widow  of  Samue/ 
X^treet,  Jr,  and  who  had  previously  been  widow  of  Michael 

Todd. 

/  It  has  been  stated  that  Mary  Doolittle  was  the  second 

/          wife  of  John  Merriman,  but  this  is  erroneous,  for  the  Wall- 
I  ingford  records  show  his  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Peck  (Land 

Book,  vol.  i,  p.  161).  Moreover,  Caleb  his  youngest  son, 
deeded  land  in  the  right  of  his  "grandfather  peck"  which  fell 
to  him  from  his  mother  "  Elisabeth  Merriman  "  (Wallingford 
Deeds  vol.  8,  p.  481).  Capt.  John  Merriman,  in  will  of  15 
May  1740,  proved  7  Feb  1741,  mentioned  sons  Israel,  John, 


SECOND  GENERATION  143 

and  George;  Daniell,  son  of  his  son  George;  daughter  Elisa- 
beth sometime  wife  of  Gershom  Todd  of  New  Haven; 
children  of  daughter  Sarah  deceased,  sometime  wife  of 
Moses  Atwater;  children  of  daughter  Mary  deceased  that 
was  wife  of  John  Merriam;  children  of  daughter  Susannah 
wife  of  Ezekiel  Tuttle;  and  son  Caleb.  (New  Haven  Pro- 
bate, vol.  6,  p.  386). 

John  Merriman  was  captain  of  the  Wallingford  train 
band  and,  for  fourteen  years,  deputy  to  the  General  Court 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut. 

Children  by  first  wife,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

ESTHER,S  born  24  Jan  1684,  probably  died  young. 
ABIGAIL,  born  i  Feb  1685,  probably  died  young. 
GEORGE,  born  14  July  1688.    (See  below  No.  10) 

Children  by  second  wife,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

JOHN,3  born  16  Oct  1691.     (No.  n) 

ISRAEL,  born  23  Jan  1694.     (No.  12) 

SARAH,  born  17  Feb  1702,  died  before  1734;  married  28  Dec 
1722  Moses  Atwater  who  was  born  17  July  1696. 

ELIZABETH,  born  2  July  1703;  married  Gershom  Todd  who 
was  born  12  Oct  1695  and  died  Nov  1748. 

MARY,  born  15  Mar  1705,  died  before  1740;  married  21  April 
1725  John  Merriam. 

CALEB,  born  24  April  1 707.     (No.  13) 

SUSANNAH,  born  20  July  1709,  died  before  1760;  married, 
at  New  Haven  21  April  1729  Ezekiel  Tuttle. 

7.  SAMUEL2  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Nathaniel1  (No.  i), 
was  born  at  New  Haven  29  Sept.  1662,  died  at  Wallingford 
25  Sept  1694;  married  Anna  Street,*  daughter  of  Rev. 

*  She  is  believed  to  have  been  a  Street  for  the  following  reasons: 
(i)  Samuel  Merriman's  brother  John  married  the  widow  of 


144  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

Samuel  and  Anna  (Miles)  Street,  who  was  born  at  New 
Haven  17  Aug  1665,  died  at  Wallingford  1705;  she  married 
second,  Bartholomew  Grossman.  On  6  Feb  1716  Nathaniel, 
Theophilus,  and  Samuel  Merriman,  legatees  of  the  estate 
of  Samuel  Merriman,  and  his  widow  Anna,  made  an  agree- 
ment for  its  distribution  (New  Haven  Probate,  vol.  4,  p.  377). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

NATHANIEL,3  born  27  May  1687,  died  young. 
NATHANIEL,  born  16  March  1690.     (No.  14) 
THEOPHILUS,  born  28  April  1693.    (No.  15) 
SAMUEL,  born  19  Dec  1694.    (No.  16) 

8.  CALEB2  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Nathaniel1  (No.  i),  was 
born  at  New  Haven  May  1665,  died  at  Wallingford  19 
July  1703;  married  9  July  1690  Mary  Preston,  daughter  of 
Dea.  Eliasaph  and  Mary  (Wilcoxen)  Preston,  who  was 
born  at  Stratford,  Conn.  12  April  1674,  and  died  at  Walling- 
ford 28  Nov  1755;  she  married  second,  at  Wallingford  18 
March  1708  Samuel  Munson.  Administration  on  the 
estate  of  Caleb  Merriman  was  granted  to  the  widow  Mary 
9  Sept  1703  (New  Haven  Probate,  vol.  2,  p.  313).  On  4 

Anna  Street's  brother  Samuel.  (2).  Samuel,3  son  of  Samuel 
and  Anna  Merriman,  named  children  Nicholas,  Katharine  and 
Miles,  and  these  names  could  only  have  come  into  the  family 
if  his  mother  was  Anna  Street;  for  her  grandfather  and  a 
brother  were  named  Nicholas,  her  mother  was  a  Miles,  her 
maternal  grandmother  was  Katharine  Miles,  and  she  had  a 
sister  named  Katharine.  (3)  Theophilus,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Anna  Merriman,  deeded  land  called  "  Maddeling's  acres ";  - 
this  must  refer  to  land  deeded  by  "  Maudlin,"  widow  of  a 
Goodman  Samuel  Street  to  Rev.  Samuel  Street,  Anna's  father. 
It  is  difficult  to  understand  how  Theophilus  obtained  title  to 
this  land  save  by  inheritance  from  his  mother  Anna. 


SECOND  GENERATION  145 

Feb  1740  Lent  Munson  in  behalf  of  his  father  Ensign  Samll 
Munson,  in  right  of  wife  Mary,  administratrix  of  the  estate 
of  Caleb  Merriman,  showed  a  division  of  the  estate  between 
John  Andrews  and  wife  Hannah  of  Hartford,  Eliasaph 
Merriman,  Moses  Merriman,  Henry  Turhand  and  wife 
Elizabeth,  Waitstill  Munson  and  wife  Phebe,  and  Ephraim 
Cook  and  wife  Lydia  (New  Haven  Probate,  vol.  6,  p.  291). 

Children,  all  born  at  Wallingford: 

MosES,3  born  31  Oct  1691.     (No.  17) 

ELIZABETH,  born  4  May  1693;  married  (i)  at  Wallingford 
7  Nov  1712  Henry  Turhand  who  was  born  at  Guilford;  (2)  she 
married  Joseph  Royce. 

ELIASAPH,  born  20 May  1695.     (No.  18) 

HANNAH,  born  10  Sept  1697,  died  28  Sept  1738;  married  at 
Wallingford  19  July  1714  John  Andrews. 

PHEBE,  born  n  Sept  1699,  died  Dec  1772;  married  at  Wal- 
lingford 10  Dec  1719  Waitstill  Munson  who  was  born  at  Walling- 
ford 12  Dec  1697  and  died  there  6  March  1789. 

LYDIA,  born  8  Sept  1701,  died  young. 

LYDIA  born  12  Nov  1702,  died  after  1777;  married  Ephraim 
Cook. 

9.  ELIZABETH2  MERRIMAN,  daughter  of  Nathaniel1 
(No.  i),  was  born  at  New  Haven  14  Sept  1669;  married  at 
Wallingford  2  Dec  1685  EBENEZER  LEWIS  who  died  in  1709. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  and  lived  in  the  eastern  part  of  Wall- 
ingford. 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

HEZEKIAH  3  LEWIS,  born  12  Oct  1686,  died  1711;  married 
Elizabeth ;  she  married  (2)  William  Frederick. 

MARY  LEWIS,  (birth  not  recorded);  married  10  Aug  1710 
Abraham  Doolittle. 


146  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

CALEB  LEWIS,  born  15  Oct  1691;  married  25  Nov  1713  Sarah 
Cook. 

FELIX  LEWIS,  born  25  Oct  1693;  married  Thomas  Andrews. 

ELIZABETH  LEWIS,  born  15  Oct  1695;  married  Ephraim  Bid- 
well  of  Glastonbury. 

BARNABAS  LEWIS,  born  4  Nov  1697,  died  i  Oct  1729;  married 
Elizabeth ,  who  married  (2)  4  Mar  1730  Daniel  Merwin. 

HANNAH  LEWIS,  born  10  Oct  1699;  married  8  Feb  1721  Capt 
Samuel  Cook  who  was  born  5  March  1695  and  died  at  New 
Haven  7  Nov  1745. 

BENJAMIN  LEWIS,  born  21  Sept  1701;  married  3  Nov  1724 
Esther  Matthews. 

MALACHI  LEWIS,  born  4  Oct  1703,  settled  in  Middletown. 

AGAPE  LEWIS,  born  10  Jan  1705;  married  about  1727  Jonathan 
Munger  of  Guilford,  Conn. 


THIRD   GENERATION 


10.  GEORGE3  MERRIMAN,  son  of  John2  (No.  6),  was 
born  at  Wallingford  14  July  1688,  died  there  1736;  married 
there  8  Jan  1713  Susannah  Abernathy,  daughter  of  William 
and  Sarah  (Doolittle)  Abernathy,  who  was  born  at  Walling- 
ford 1 8  July  1689.  Administration  on  the  estate  of  George 
Merriman  deceased  was  granted  6  Dec  1736  to  the  widow 
Susannah.  In  1738  the  widow  was  appointed  guardian 
to  the  minor  children  Daniel  and  Molly,  while  the  daughter 
Susannah  chose  John  Merriman,  Jr,  as  guardian.  Later 
Daniel  chose  Samuel  Thorpe,  Jr,  as  guardian  (New  Haven 
Probate  Records,  vol.  6,  pp.  200,  244,  368). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

NATHAN/  born  30  Nov  1713,  died  young. 

HANNAH,  born  about  1715  (not  recorded),  died  19  Oct  1751; 
married  15  May  1734  Samuel  Thorp,  Jr.,  who  was  born  24  Mar 
1707. 

NATHAN,  born  16  July  1717.    (No.  19) 

Lois,  born  10  November  1720. 

SUSANNAH,  born  13  Sept  1723,  died  1820;  married  at  Walling- 
ford 31  Dec  1739  Benjamin  Thorp  who  was  born  30  Sept  1716; 
she  married  (2)  Ezra  Tuttle  who  was  born  about  1720  and  died 
ii  June  1793;  she  married  (3)  at  North  Haven  27  March  1799 
Oliver  Blakeslee  who  was  born  15  Aug  1741. 

DANIEL,  born  22  Feb  1727,  living  in  1751,  but  left  no  issue. 

MOLLY,  born  6  Jan  1730;  m  arried  Abner  Thorp  who  was  born 
14  Oct  1725. 

147 


148  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

n.  JOHN3  MERRIMAN,  son  of  John2  (No.  6),  was  born 
at  Wallingford  16  Oct  1691,  died  at  Southington  17  Feb 
1784;  married  at  Wallingford  24  Feb  1726  Jemima  Wilcox, 
daughter  of  Obadiah  and  Silence  (Mansfield)  Wilcoxen, 
who  was  born  at  Guilford  30  Oct  1699  and  died  at  Southing- 
ton  ii  Oct  1764.  He  was  an  anti-pedo  Baptist  minister  at 
Wallingford  and  after  1750  at  Southington  (see  Timlow's 
Sketches  of  Southington). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

JOHN,4  born  12  Sept  1728.     (No.  20) 
THANKFUL,  born  2  August  1731. 
SILAS,  born  3  Jan  1734.     (No.  21) 
EBER,  born  26  Feb  1736.     (No.  22) 

12.  ISRAEL3  MERRIMAN,  son  of  John2  (No.  6),  was  born 
at  Wallingford  23  Jan  1694;  married  23  June  1714  Comfort 
Benham,  daughter  of  John  and  Comfort  (Mansfield)  Ben- 
ham,  who  was  born  at  New  Haven  15  Aug  1692.  On  6 
April  1734  Israel  sold  his  entire  estate  in  Wallingford  to 
John  Merriman,  Jr.  and  Caleb  Merriman  (Wallingford 
Deeds,  vol.  7,  p.  358).  He  removed  to  Harwinton,  Conn., 
where  he  was  selectman  in  1637  (see  Chipman's  History  of 
Harwinton).  He  died  after  1753. 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

JOSEPH,4  born  28  August  1716.     (No.  23) 
COMFORT,  born  3  October,  1720. 
JELIN,  born  16  February  1724. 
ELIZABETH,  born  n  March  1727. 
SARAH,  born  16  December  1729. 
ISRAEL,  born  30  November  1732.     (No.  24) 


THIRD  GENERATION  149 

13.  CALEB  3  MERRIMAN,  son  of  John  2  (No.  6),  was  born  at 
Wallingford  24  April  1707,  died  there  2  June  1770;  married 
there  31  Aug  1732  Ruth  Sedgwick,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Ruth  (Peck)  Sedgwick,  who  was  born  at  Hartford  21 
Jan  1711  and  died  at  Wallingford  in  1799.  Caleb  Merri- 
man,  in  his  will  of  8  May  1770,  proved  June  1770,  mentions 
his  wife  Ruth;  his  brothers  George,  Israel,  and  John;  his 
son  Caleb;  his  daughters  Sarah  wife  of  Titus  Cook,  Mary 
wife  of  Jeremiah  Hulls,  Elizabeth  wife  of  Abel  Merriman, 
and  Ruth  wife  of  Hezekiah  Johnson  (New  Haven  Probate 
Records,  vol.  n,  p.  88).  Ruth  Merriman  in  will  of  22 
April  1797,  proved  25  March  1799,  called  herself  "  old," 
and  mentions  son  Caleb,  and  the  daughters  of  her  daughters 
Sarah  Cook,  Mary  Hull,  Elizabeth  Merriman,  and  Ruth 
Johnson  (New  Haven  Probate,  vol.  4,  p.  335). 

The  tombstone  of  Caleb  Merriman  reads:  "  Under  this 
Monument  lieth  inter'd  the  Remains  of  Caleb  Merriman 
Esqr  Deacon  of  ye  ist  Consociated  Church  of  Christ  in 
Wallingford  who  died  of  the  Small  Pox  the  I2th  Day  of  June 
A  D  1770.  In  him  the  Widow  lost  a  kind  husband,  the 
children  a  tender  Father,  the  Church  a  liberal  Benefactor, 
the  Poor  and  Distressed  a  pittifull  and  ready  Friend." 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

SARAH,*  born  25  May  1733;  married  at  Wallingford  18  Jan 
1753  Titus  Cook. 

MARY,  born  about  1735  (not  recorded),  died  22  Aug  1774; 
married  at  Wallingford  18  Jan  1753  Jeremiah  Hulls  who  was 
born  5  Jan  1729,  died  24  Aug  1790. 

GEORGE,  born  about  1737  (not  recorded),  died  26  April  1757. 

ELIZABETH,  born  24  Nov  1739,  died  before  1797;  married  at 
Wallingford  9  March  1756  Abel  Merriman  son  of  Nathaniel 3  (14). 

RUTH,  born  31  Oct'or  i  Nov  1741,  died  at  Hamden,  12  Dec 
1819;  married  at  Wallingford  Nov  1758  Capt  Hezekiah  Johnson 


150  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

who  was  born  at  Wallingford  12  March  1732,  died  at  Hamden 
21  Feb  1810. 

JERUSHA  (birth  not  recorded),  died  5  July  1751. 

ABIGAIL  (birth  not  recorded),  died  3  April  1761. 

ANNE,  born  29  April  1749,  died  4  July  1751. 

CALEB,  born  26  Feb  1751,  died  9  Oct  1751. 

CALEB,  born  30  Sept  1754.     (No.  25) 

14.  NATHANIEL3    MERRIMAN,  son  of  Samuel 2  (No.  7), 
was  born  at  Wallingford  16  March  1690;  died  there  9  June 
1767;  married  Mehitable  Hall,  daughter  of  David  and  Sarah 
(Rockwell)  Hall,  who  was  born  at  Wallingford  15  Aug  1691, 
died   1772.    The  will  of   Nathaniel   Merriman,   dated  30 
Oct  1765,  proved  Aug  1767,  mentions  the  children  of  his 
eldest  son   Samuel  deceased;  his  second  son  David;  the 
children  of  daughter  Thankfull  Roys  deceased;  Phineas  and 
Nathaniel,  sons   to  his  son  Nathaniel  deceased;  son  The- 
ophilus;  son  Abel;  and  wife  Mehitabel  (New  Haven  Probate, 
vol.  10,  p.  434).     Administration  on  the  estate  of  Mehitabel 
Merriman  deceased  was  granted  to  her  son  Theophilus  23 
March  1772  (Ibid,  vol.  n,  p.  231). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford : 

SAMUEL,4  born  3  May  1712.     (No.  26) 

DAVID,  born  n  Feb  1715.     (No.  27) 

THANKFUL,  born  31  May  1717,  died  at  Waterbury  9  Oct  1749; 
married  15  Nov  1743  Phinehas  Royce  of  Waterbury  who  died 
ii  May  1787. 

NATHANIEL,  born  31  May  1720.     (No.  28) 

THEOPHILUS  (birth  not  recorded).     (No.  29) 

ABEL  (birth  not  recorded).    (No.  30) 

15.  THEOPHILUS3  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Samuel  2  (No.  7), 
was  born  at  Wallingford  28  April  1693,  removed  to  North- 
field,  Mass,  about  1718,  where  he  was    killed  by  Indians 


(w* 

THIRD  GENERATION  151 

21  Aug  1723;  married  at  Wallingford  9  Sept  1714  Mary 
Tune,  who  married  secondly,  Benjamin  Miller  and  died  6 
Jan  1782  aged  84. 

Children: 

ANNA,*  born  at  Wallingford  i  Sept  1715,  died  7  July  1778; 
married  (i)  1733  Ephraim  Chamberlain  who  died  before  1750; 
married  (2)  about  1750  Benjamin  Royce  of  Wallingford. 

THEOPHILUS,  born  at  Wallingford  28  Aug  1717,  died  at  North- 
field  25  Sept  1792;  was  deaf  and  dumb. 

SARAH,  born  at  Northfield  n  Aug  1719;  died  21  Aug  1719. 

SARAH,  born  at  Northfield  5  Dec  1720,  died  before  1755; 
married  about  1739  Thomas  Taylor  who  was  born  26  Nov  1717 
and  died  24  March  1778. 

SAMUEL,  born  at  Northfield  13  Feb  1722/3.     (No.  31) 

16.  SAMUEL3  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Samuel2  (No.  7),  was 
born  at  Wallingford  19  Dec  1694,  died  at  Wallingford  between 
1779  and  1783;  married  at  W7allingford  9  Nov  1727  Sarah 
Welcher,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Abernathy) 
Welcher,  who  was  born  at  Wallingford  16  May  1707  an^ 
died  after  1768.  It  would  seem  that  none  of  their  sons 
lived,  for  on  24  June  1783  Katharine  and  Sarah  Merriman 
and  William  Jones  and  his  wife  Eunice  agreed  by  three 
deeds  to  a  division  of  the  land  of  their  father  Samuel  Merri- 
man deceased  (Wallingford  Deeds,  vol.  23,  pp.  147  et  seq). 
Samuel  was  living  15  May  1772  when  he  deeded  land  to 
Jeremiah  Hulls  (Wallingford  Deeds,  vol.  18,  p.  455).  On  2 
April  1779  Samuel  Merriman  and  wife  Sarah  deeded  land 
to  Jeremiah  Hulls  (Ibid,  vol.  21,  p.  456).  Samuel  Merriman 
and  wife  Sarah  joined  other  Abernathy  heirs  15  June  1768 
in  disposing  of  land  laid  out  to  Abraham  Doolittle  which 
had  descended  to  them  from  their  grandmother  (Ibid,  vol. 
17,  p.  441). 


152  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 
SAMUEL,*  born  24  August  1728. 
NICHOLAS  (birth  not  recorded),  died  17  Feb  1737. 
ANNA  (birth  not  recorded),  died  10  March  1737. 
SAMUEL,  born  14  Oct  1734,  died  28  Feb  1737. 
KATHARINE,  born  28  Dec  1736;  living  unmarried  in  1783.^ 
SARAH,  born  28  Jan  1742;  living  unmarried  in  1783. 
MILES,  born  n  June  1744. 
STEPHEN,  born  25  May  1747. 
HANNAH,  born  i  December  1750. 
EUNICE,  born  21  Aug  1753;  married  William  Jones. 

17.  MOSES 3  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Caleb2  (No.  8),  was 
born  at  Wallingford  31  Oct  1691,  died  there  4  Feb  174!; 
married  there  6  Feb  1713  Martha  Beach,  daughter  of  Azariah 
and  Martha  Beach,  who  was  born  about  1690.  In  will  of 
ii  Jan  1744,  proved  30  April  1744,  Moses  Merriman  referred 
to  his  father  Caleb  deceased  and  mentioned  his  wife  Martha; 
sons  Jehiel,  Benjamin,  Moses,  and  Lent;  daughter  Phebe 
wife  of  Moses  Munson;  daughters  Martha  and  Mary  Merri- 
man. Ephraim  Cook  was  allowed  guardian  to  Moses,  son 
of  Sergt.  Moses  Merriman,  and  later  to  the  son  Lent  (New 
Haven  Probate,  vol.  6,  pp.  582,  619;  vol.  7,  p.  68). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

JEHIEL,4  born  28  Oct  1713.     (No.  32) 

ESTHER,  born  n  Nov  1716,  died  3  April  1734. 

PHEBE,  born  27  March  1720;  married  (i)  18  July  1739  Moses 
Munson  who  died  in  1750;  married  (2)  9  April  1752  Josiah 
Bartholomew  of  Branford,  Conn. 

BENJAMIN,  born  21  Jan  1722.     (No.  33) 

MARTHA,  born  30  Dec  1723;  unmarried  in  1768  (Wallingford 
Deeds,  Vol.  17,  p.  408);  married  16  Nov  1775  Daniel  Doolittlc 
who  was  born  at  Middletown  3  Feb  1 706. 


THIRD  GENERATION  153 

MARY,  born  26  Feb  1726;  married  at  Wallingford  7  Jan  1745/6 
Joseph  Royce. 

MOSES,  born  14  Feb  1728.     (No.  34) 
LENT,  born  25  May  1731.    (No.  35) 

18.  ELiASAPH3  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Caleb2  (No.  8),  was 
born  at  Wallingford  20  May  1695,  died  there  19  Aug  1758; 
married  there  10  Dec  1719  Abigail  Hulls,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Andrews)  Hulls,  who  was  born  at 
Wallingford  14  Feb  1704  and  died  there  20  Jan  1774.  He 
was  ensign  of  the  military  company  in  Wallingford  in  1735, 
lieutenant  in  1740,  and  captain  in  1743. 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

EUNICE/  born  7  Oct  1720,  died  12  Jan  1721. 

EUNICE,  born  24  Dec  1721;  married  (i)  at  Wallingford  9  Dec 
1747  Samuel  Doolittle  who  was  born  9  Dec  1721,  died  14  May 
1749;  married  (2)  at  Wallingford  25  March  1754  Capt.  Ephraim 
Preston  who  was  born  8  Sept  1709,  died  8  April  1778. 

SARAH,  born  18  Nov  1723;  married  at  Wallingford  8  June 
1743  Nathaniel  Jones  who  was  born  in  1717. 

CALEB,  born  3  Sept  1725.    (No.  36) 

TITUS,  born  28  August  1727.     (No.  37) 

AMASA,  born  17  June  1729.    (No.  38) 

ENOCH,  born  i  May  1731,  died  14  June  1731. 

ELIZABETH,  born  27  July  1732,  was  living  at  Barkhamsted 
1787  (Wallingford  Deeds,  vol.  24,  p.  295);  married  at  Wallingford 
25  May  1756  Reuben  Preston  who  was  born  27  May  1736,  died 

5  Aug  1765. 

ESTHER,  born  2  Dec  1734,  died  25  May  1787;  married  at 
Wallingford  5  April  1762  Ephraim  Preston  Jr.  who  was  born 

6  Aug  1734,  died  21  April  1786. 
ELIASAPH,  born  2  Nov  1736.    (No.  39) 

ENOCH  and  EBENEZER,  twins,  born  26  May  1739,  died  young. 

TURHAND,  born  24  May  1741,  died  young. 

CHARLES,  born  2  Sept  1744,  died  young. 

ABIGAIL,  born  17  June  1749,  killed  by  lightning  4  Aug.  1758. 


FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS 


Descendants  of  the  Fifth  Generation  are  given  in  the  smaller 
type.  Under  each  of  these  are  noted  the  names  and  years  of 
birth  of  the  Merrimans  of  the  Sixth  Generation,  as  far  as  they 
are  now  known. 

19.  NATHAN4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  George3  (No.  10)  born 
at  Wallingford  16  July  1717,  died  there  in  1755;  married 
there  3  Aug  1741  Sarah  Bartholomew,  daughter  of  John.  In 
Jan  1756  administration  on  the  estate  of  Nathan  Merriman 
deceased  was  granted  to  the  widow  Sarah  who  was  chosen 
guardian  by  Lois  and  appointed  guardian  to  the  minor 
children  George,  Joel,  Titus,  Susanna,  and  Ichabod.  On 
27  April  1759  Abel  Cooke  was  chosen  guardian  by  George 
(New  Haven  Probate,  vol.  8,  pp.  487,  509;  vol.  9,  p.  245). 
George  and  Joel  evidently  died  while  quite  young  in  the 
French  wars,  while  Lois  and  Susanna  must  have  died  unmar- 
ried as  the  following  deed  indicates.  On  31  Jan  1783  Titus 
Merriman  of  Cornwall  and  Ichabod  Merriman  of  Torrington 
deeded  all  right  in  that  part  of  the  land  of  George  Merriman 
formerly  of  Wallingford  deceased,  which  fell  to  the  share  of 
Susannah  Merriman  late  of  Wallingford  deceased.  Titus, 
Ichabod,  and  Susannah  being  grandchildren  to  the  said 
George  Merriman,  and  the  said  Titus  and  Ichabod  are 
the  only  legal  heirs  to  the  said  Susannah  (Wallingford  Deeds, 
vol.  26,  p.  299). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford : 

Lois,6  born  n  June  1742,  died  before  1783. 

154 


FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS  155 

GEORGE,  born  12  Jan  1743/4,  reported  dead  in  the  French 
and  Indian  wars,  6  Oct  1 759. 

JOEL,  born  16  July  1745,  reported  dead  in  the  French  and 
Indian  wars,  30  Aug  1760. 

TITUS,  born  5  April  1747,  removed  before  1783  to  Cornwall, 
Conn. 

SUSANNAH,  born  10  Aug  1752,  died  before  1783. 

ICHABOD,  born  23  Jan  1755;  married  at  Wallingford  12  Dec 
1777  Rebecca  Tuttle;  removed  before  1783  to  Torrington,  Conn. 
He  served  in  the  Revolution  in  1776  in  Capt  Bunnell's  Company. 
Children:  George 8 1778  and  Samuel  1780. 

20.  JOHN4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  John3  (No.  n),  was  born 
at  Wallingford  12  Sept  1728,  removed  to  Southington,  Conn., 
about  1750,  died  there  13  April  1801;  married  Mabel  Thorp, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Thompson)  Thorp,  who 
was  born  at  Wallingford  12  Jan  1724. 

Children,  all  born  in  Southington: 

X^ORMA,N)  MANSFIELD/  born  3  May  1752;  enlisted  in  the 
Revolution  in  1780.  Children:  Mary6  1778,  Patience  1780, 
Wadsworth  1784,  Dervilla  1786,  Anna  1788,  Jemima  1790. 

CHAUNCEY,  married  13  Feb  1777  Sarah  Ives  who  died  aged  65; 
he  enlisted  in  the  Revolution  in  1780.  Children:  Rosanna  *  1777, 
Lowly  1779,  Marcus  1782,  Sarah  1784,  Anson  1786,  Roxanna, 
Leonard  1791,  John  1795. 

JOHN,  born  8  Feb  1758,  was  a  minute  man  in  the  Revolution, 
died  in  1778  while  overheated  on  a  march. 

JEMIMA,  born  30  June  1764;  married/Daniel  Carter  who  was 
born  in  Branford  aerjiiHe  !•;&&,  she  raised  silk  worms  and  mad 
a  dress  therefrom.  "-* 

CALEB,  born  8  June  1768,  died  14  Oct  1838;  married  (i)  i  June 
1801  Elizabeth  Allen,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Elizabeth 
(Pousley)  Allen  of  Middletown,  who  was  born  8  July  1770  and 
died  i  Jan  1814;  married  (2)  10  Oct  1814  Sarah  Allen,  sister  of 
his  first  wife.  Children:  Mansfield  6 1802,  William  1805,  Ebenezer 
1807,  Joseph  1809,  Joseph  1810. 


156  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

21.  SILAS 4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  John3  (No.  n),  born  at 
Wallingford  3  Jan  1734,  died  at  New  Haven  8  May  1805; 
married  at  Wallingford  15  Oct  1760  Hannah  Upson  who  died 
at  New  Haven  28  April  1820.  On  12  Dec  1766  Silas  Merri- 
man  and  Daniel  Upson  of  Wallingford  bought  land  in  New 
Haven  of  James  Blackslee  of  Waterbury  (New  Haven 
Deeds,  vol.  28,  p.  68)  and  on  8  Oct  1776  James  and  Anna 
Blackslee  of  New  Haven  deeded  land  to  Silas  Merriman 
of  New  Haven  (Ibid,  vol.  36,  p.  49).  Administration  on 
the  estate  of  Silas  Merriman  of  New  Haven  was  granted 
to  James  Merriman  3  June  1805;  the  estate  was  divided 
between  the  widow,  James,  Marcus,  the  heirs  of  Samuel 
deceased,  and  the  heirs  of  Lucy  Matthews  deceased  (New 
Haven  Probate,  vol.  24,  p.  409;  vol.  25,  p.  333).  In  1820 
the  estate  of  Hannah  Merriman  was  distributed  to  her  three 
children,  to  Marcus,  to  the  heirs  of  James,  and  the  heirs  of 
Samuel  (Ibid,  vol.  31,  p.  20). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

JAMES,5  born  18  July  1761,  died  at  New  Haven  20  June  1813 
while  a  member  of  the  state  legislature;  married  7  March  1802 
Frances  Munson  who  was  born  31  Oct  1765  and  died  8  Sept 
1831.  He  served  in  the  Revolution  in  1780  in  Capt.  Phineas 
Bradley's  Company,  and  later  held  the  title  of  General.  Chil- 
dren: John6 1806,  Lucy,  Frances. 

MARCUS,  born  31  Oct  1762,  died  at  New  Haven  20  Feb 
1850;  married  (i)  13  Nov  1783  Sally  Parmalee  who  died 
16  May  1793  aged  27;  their  children.  Elizabeth6  1787,  Marcus 
1792,  two  infants,  Hannah.  He  married  (2),  i  Dec  1793  Susanna 
Bonticou,  daughter  of  Timothy  and  Susan  (Gordon)  Bonticou 
who  was  born  in  1775  and  died  at  New  Haven  n  Jan  1807;  their 
children,  John,6  Sally,  two  infants,  Sarah  Parmalee  1799.  He 
married  (3)  22  Dec  1807  Lydia  Wilcox  of  Killingworth  who  died 
at  New  Haven  5  Feb  1822  aged  55.  He  married  (4)  Nov  1822 
Betsey  (widow  of  Othniel  DeForest  of  Huntington)  who  died  in 


FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS  157 

1853.  He  served  in  the  Revolution  in  1780  in  Capt  Phineas 
Bradley's  Company. 

LUCY,  died  before  1806,  married Matthews. 

SILAS,  born  12  Feb  1769,  died  1789;  no  issue. 

SAMUEL,  born  9  Sept  1771,  died  at  New  Haven  13  Oct  1805; 
married  (i)  Mary  Fitch,  daughter  of  Nathaniel  Fitch;  children, 

Samuel  Fitch  •  1794,  and  Mary;  married  (2)  Nancy who 

was  living  at  Windham,  Conn.,  in  1807. 

22.  EsER4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  John3  (No.  n),  was  born 
at  Wallingford  26  Feb  17^6,  moved  to  Southington  about 
1750,  died  there  */  ficfiZiy,  married,  first, r —  Hastings ?*£  «*•'/ 


married,  second,  Hannah  Rogers  of  Waterford. 

Children  by  first  wife,  all  born  in  Southington:     ^**4« 

PELEG,'  born  1 763,  dieg^ N^  1773-        & '^  k  ^^.  /* 

PEREZ,  born  17  Oct  176$;  married  Lucy  Barnes;  one  child, 
Almon  6 1807,  £>  *  *  «t£  w 

HARMON,  born  7  March  1768,  died  3  Sept  1836;  married  10 
Feb  1794  Lovisa  Tuttle,  daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Ruth  (Wilson) 
Tuttle,  who  was  born  25  Oct  1775.  Children:  Roswell  8  1796, 
Sarah  1798. 

EZRA,  born  1770,  died  7  Nov  1773. 

STILLMAN,  born  6  Jan  1772,  died  15  Nov  1808;  married  10 
Nov  1801  Sarah  Hall,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Lydia  (Brown) 
Hall,  who  was  born  8  Aug  1776,  died  23  April  1873.  Children, 
Betsey6 1802,  Lydia  1804,  James  Stillman  1807. 

ALBERT,  born  6  Sept  1774,  died  2  Aug  1827;  married  22  Nov 
1803  Roxanna  Hart  of  New  Britain  who  died  26  Nov  1859. 
Children:  Amon  Hart 6  1804,  Lorenzo,  Sophronia,  Salmon  1809, 
Eliza,  Roxana  1813. 

DOCTOR,  born  8  July  1776,  died  at  Westfield,  Mass.;  married 
ii  Jan  1803  Sabrina  Atkins,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eunice 
(Wightman)  Atkins,  who  was  born  at  Southington  8  April  1780. 
Children:  Earl  Jefferson  6 1803,  Sherlett  Eunice  1805,  Silas  Atkins 
1807;  Sabrina  Hastings  1809. 


158  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

OLCOTT,  born  13  Jan  1779,  died  23  Nov  1820;  married  Sophronia 
Hitchcock,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Munson)  Hitchcock, 
who  was  born  in  Southington  1782  and  died  there  13  May  1849. 
Children,  Samuel  Green  6  1809,  Sophronia,  Franklin  1813. 

Children  by  second  wife,  all  born  in  Southington : 

ROGERS/  born  9  Nov  1783. 

MEHITABEL,  born  24  June  1785,  died  Aug  1855;  married 
Jesse  Hall  of  Wallingford. 

SARAH,  born  1787,  died  17  March  1788. 
,SEBKTI?A,  born  14  Oct  1789,  died  2  Aug  1822. 

HANNAH;  married  (i)  3  July  1813  Stoddard  Neal;  married 
(2)  Samuel  Bartholomew. 

JAMES,  born  1797,  died  17  Jan  1800. 

5»»  BW/t/i-  fr-2-23.  JOSEPH*  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Israel3  (No.  12),  was 
born  in  Wallingford  28  Aug  1716,  removed  with  his  parents 

j>7»u>  /7^o.  to  Harwinton,  Conn.,  in  1735;  married  in  1745^  He  was 
quite  likely  father  of  Joseph,  George,  and  William  mentioned 
below. 


i-»~.  If  l+tt*.  l7VMjoSEPH,B^probably  son  of  Joseph,4  lived  at  Litchfield,  Conn., 

^J^- — 'was  drowned  21  Oct  1775  at  Campville  near  Litchfield;  married 

Rachel   Culver,  daughter    of    Zebulon    and    Eleanor    (Taylor) 

Culver,  who  was  born  at  Litchfield  16   Dec    1753.     Children: 

Joseph8  1772,  Silas  1 7 74. 

GEORGE,  probably  son  of  Joseph,4  lived  in  Harwinton;  enlisted 
in  the  Revolution  in  1780. 

WILLIAM,  perhaps  son  of  Joseph,4  was  a  selectman  in  Har- 
winton in  1789. 

REUBEN,  died  at  Litchfield  22  Sept  1865  aged  83;  Melia 
Byington  his  wife  died  there  23  June  1856  aged  69.  A  tradition 
says  that  his  father  was  named  Samuel  who  came  from  Har- 
winton. 

24.  ISRAEL*  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Israel3  (No.  12)  was  born 
at  Wallingford  30  Nov  1732,  removed  with  his  parents  to 


FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS  159 

Harwinton,  Conn.;  enlisted  29  April  1777  for  eight  months 
service  in  the  Revolution  in  Capt.  Munson's  Company. 
No  further  information  is  now  available. 

25.  CALEB"*  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Caleb3  (No.  13),  was  born 
at  Wallingford  30  Sept  1754,  died  there  7  April  1816;  married 
first,  18  Jan  1778  Mary  Peck  who  died  15  Dec  1779;  married 
second,  14  Dec  1780  Amy  Lewis;  married  third,  at  Walling- 
ford 20  Oct  1785  Statira  Hall,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Susannah  Hall,  who  was  born  at  Wallingford  15  Jan  1759; 
married  fourth,  at  Cheshire,  5  Feb  1800  Hannah,  daughter 
of  Stephen  Atwater  and  widow  of  -  Hall,  who  was  born 
at  Wallingford  27  Nov  1754.  Caleb's  will  was  executed  25 
March  1815  and  proved  19  April  1816  (Wallingford  Probate 
vol.  9,  p.  324). 

Children  by  second  wife,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 


ISAAC  LEWIS,8  born  22  Nov  1781,  died  before  1810;  child, 
Eunice  Atwater  8  1805. 

CALEB,  born  about  1783  (not  recorded);  married  (i)  6  Dec 
1807  Eunice  Hall;  children,  Amy  Lewis  •  1808,  Silas  1811,  Ruth 
Sedgwick  1814,  George.  He  married  (2)  i  Oct  1823  Charity 
Clark. 

Child  by  third  wife,  born  at  Wallingford: 

BENJAMIN  HALL,  born  21  Aug  1787,  died  before  April  1832; 
married  26  Dec  1813  Laura  Parker  who  was  born  about  1795 
and  died  i  June  1869.  Children:  Silas  8  1814,  Marcus  1816, 
Harriet  1818,  Laura  1821. 


26.  SAMUEL*  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Nathaniel3  (No.  14), 
was  born  at  Wallingford  3  May  1712,  died  before  1765  when 
his  father  by  will  refers  to  the  children  of  his  son  Samuel 
deceased.  He  probably  married  Sarah  Clark,  daughter  of 


160  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

Stephen  Clark  of  North  Haven,  who  was  born  in  1707. 
Stephen  Clark,  in  his  will  of  1740,  mentioned  his  daughter 
Sarah  Merriman;  he  also  had  a  daughter  who  married  a 
Culver  of  Wallingford. 

Children: 

MARTHA,6  born  at  New  Haven  23  April  1733,  died  10  Nov 
1802;  married  18  Nov  1773  Ebenezer  Mattoon  who  was  born 
4  April  1735,  died  27  May  1814. 

SARAH,  born  at  New  Haven  29  April  1735;  married  9  Sept 
1756  Thomas  Beach. 


27.  DAVID4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Nathaniel3  (No.  14), 
was  born  at  Wallingford  n  Feb  1715,  died  there  13  Oct 
1771;  married  Elizabeth  Benham,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Hope  (Cook)  Benham,  who  was  born  at  Wallingford  about 
1725,  died  there  24  May  1784.  In  Oct  1771  administration 
on  the  estate  of  David  Merriman  deceased  was  granted 
to  the  widow  Elisabeth.  The  final  distribution  of  the  estate 
was  between  the  widow,  Thankful  wife  of  Giles  Hall,  and 
Elisabeth  wife  of  Hezekiah  Hall  (New  Haven  Probate, 
vol.  n,  pp.  200,  512).  On  25  June  1784  the  dower  of 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Lieut.  David  Merriman,  was  divided 
between  her  two  daughters  (Ibid,  vol.  14,  p.  289;  also  see 
Wallingford  Probate,  vol.  3,  p.  128). 

Children,  born  in  Wallingford: 

THANKFUL,5  born  17  March  1744/5,  died  14  July  1796;  mar- 
ried at  Wallingford  24  Dec  1772  Giles  Hall  who  was  born  18 
Feb  1733,  died  17  March  1789. 

ELIZABETH,  born  about  1752,  died  21  Nov  1801;  married  at 
Wallingford  30  Oct  1769  Hezekiah  Hall  who  was  born  13  July 
1743,  died  7  Sept  1815. 


FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS  161 

28.  NATHANIEL4  MERRiMAN,  son  of  Nathaniel3  (No.  14), 
was  born  at  Wallingford  31  May  1720,  died  there  10  July 
1 765;  married  there  19  Dec  1743  Prudence  Austin,  daughter 
of  John  and  Prudence  (Royce)  Austin,  who  was  born  at 
Wallingford  10  Nov  1723,  died  there  1806.  In  Sept  1765 
administration  on  the  estate  of  Nathaniel  Merriman,  Jr. 
was  granted  to  the  widow  Prudence.  Final  distribution 
was  not  made  until  1778,  after  the  death  of  the  son  Phinehas, 
when  the  estate  was  set  to  Nathaniel;  Mary  the  third 
daughter;  Prudence  the  eldest  daughter,  wife  of  Archable 
Allen;  and  Mehitabel  the  second  daughter,  wife  of  The- 
ophilus  Page.  The  dower  had  been  previously  set  out  (New 
Haven  Probate,  vol.  10,  pp.  289,  515;  vol.  12,  p.  242).  The 
widow  Prudence,  in  will  of  i  Nov  1805,  proved  14  June 
1806,  mentioned  daughters  Prudence  and  Mary,  and  the 
children  of  daughter  Mabel  deceased  (Wallingford  Probate, 
vol.  6,  p.  191).  On  31  March  1807  Joel  Page  of  Wallingford, 
Phinehas  Page  of  Hansley,  Mass.,  Levi  Page  of  Cornway, 
Mass.,  Nathaniel  Page  of  Meriden,  and  Archelus  and 
Prudence  Allen  of  Meriden,  deeded  to  Nathaniel  Merriman 
of  Wallingford,  all  rights,  as  heirs  of  Nathaniel,  Jr.  and 
Phineus  Merriman  deceased,  in  the  dower  of  Prudence 
Merriman  deceased  (Wallingford  Deeds,  vol.  32,  p.  495). 

Children: 

PHINEHAS,B  died  before  1777. 

PRUDENCE,  married  27  March  1775  Archelaus  Ailing. 

MEHITABEL,  married  Theophilus  Page. 

MARY,  was  living  unmarried  in  1807  when  Eliakim  Hall  was 
her  conservator  (Wallingford  Deeds,  vol.  33,  p.  93). 

NATHANIEL,  born  about  1760,  died  at  Wallingford  7  July 
1808;  married  there  27  Dec  1781  Lucy  Moss,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Esther  (Curtis)  Moss,  who  married  (2)  Joel  Peck 
and  died  March  1822.  His  will  was  signed  7  June  1808  and 


162  MERRIMAN   GENEALOGY 

proved  8  Aug  1808.  Children:  Isaac,8  Lucy  1786,  Nancy  1788, 
Nathaniel  1792,  Edward  1794,  Hiram  1799,  Henry  1801,  Mabel 
1 80 3,  Artemisia  1807. 

29.  TnEOPHiLUS4    MERRIMAN,  son  of  Nathaniel3   (No. 
14),  lived  at  Wallingford  where  he  died  in  1807;  married 
1 6  Oct  1772  Margery  Eliot  daughter  of  Abial  and  Mary 
(Leete)  Eliot,  a  descendant  of  Gov.  William  Leete  of  Guil- 
ford,  who  was  born  19  March  1742.     On  21   Sept.   1807 
administration  on  the  estate  of  Theophilus  was  granted  to 
Mary  Hunt,  next  of  kin  and  creditor,  the  widow  refusing 
to  act  (Wallingford  Probate,  vol.  6,  p.  132). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

RUTH,5  born  18  July  1773;  married  24  Nov  1794  Samuel  Frost. 

ELIOT,  died  26  Oct  1774. 

ELIOT  HALL,  born  8  Jan  1775. 

MARY;  married  at  North  Haven  27  Dec   1798  John  Hunt  of 
New  Haven. 

SARAH,  born  6  April  1780. 

30.  ABEL4    MERRIMAN,   son    of  Nathaniel3    (No.    14), 
was  born  at  Wallingford  and  died  at  Wells,  Vt. ;  married  at 
Wallingford  9  March  1756  Elizabeth  Merriman  (see  above 
under  No.  12).    About  1771  they  removed  to  Wells,  Vt. 
He  was  Lieut,  in  Capt.  Daniel  Culver's  Company  in  the 
Revolution,  and  Capt.  in  Col.  Ebenezer  Allen's  regiment 
to  Ticonderoga  in   1778-81;   he  was  several   times  town 
representative  from  Wells.     Abel  and  Elizabeth  were  living 
at  Wells  in  1787  (Wallingford  Deeds,  vol.  24,  p.  365)  and 
she  was  not  living  in  1797  (Ibid,  vol.  28,  p.  482). 

Children,  probably  all  born  at  Wallingford: 

CALEB,5  born  22  February  1757,  was  living  at  Wells  in  1785. 
GEORGE,  born  26  Aug  1759,  died  at  Wallingford    21   May 


FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS  163 

1836;  married  there  17  Feb  1780  Katharine  Johnson,  daughter 
of  Sherborne  and  Katharine  (Hitchcock)  Johnson,  who  was  born 
18  May  1758,  died  8  July  1842.  He  served  in  the  Revolution 
in  Capt.  BunnelPs  Company  1776.  Children:  Martha8  1781, 
Mary  1782,  Nancy  1787. 

SAMUEL  SEDGWICK,  born  2  April  1762,  died  19  Sept  1847  at 
Wells,  Vt.;  married  there  Polly  Cross,  daughter  of  Joseph,  who 
died  19  Jan  1845.  He  served  in  the  Revolution  in  his  father's 
company.  Children:  Robert,6  Polly  1795,  Betsey  1796,  Martha 
1797,  Hannah  1799,  Samuel  1805,  Elihu  C.  1809. 

ABEL,  was  living  at  Wells  in  1797. 

ABIGAIL,  born  12  April  1770;  married  Timothy  Hebard  of 
Onwell,  Vt.  (Wallingford  Deeds,  vol.  28,  p.  482.) 

31.  SAMUEL4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Theophilus3  (No.  15), 
was  born  at  Northfield,  Mass.,  13  Feb  1722/3,  died  there  22 
June  1803;  married  first,  3  March  1747  Mary  Hawks, 
daughter  of  Eleazer,  who  was  born  at  Deerfield,  Mass, 
and  died  24  Aug  1759;  married  second,  21  Dec  1759  Lydia 
Harwood,  daughter  of  John,  who  was  widow  of  Asahel 
Stebbins. 

Children  by  first  wife: 

SAMUEL,B  born  at  Northfield  n  Sept  1749,  died  at  Unadilla, 
N.  Y.  in  1825;  married  (i)  at  Northfield  in  1768  Eunice  Hall; 

children,  Sarah  '  1769,  Theophilus  1773;  married  (2)  ; 

children,  Sylvanus,8  Samuel  1782,  Zilpha,  a  daughter.  He 
removed  to  West  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  and  about  1804  to  Una- 
dilla, N.  Y.  He  served  in  the  Revolution. 

SARAH,  born  i  March  1752;  married  18  Nov  1772  Elisha 
Wright  of  Montagu. 

ZILPHA,  baptised  and  died  n  Sept  1753. 

Children  by  second  wife: 

LEVI,S  born  27  Nov  1760  at  Northfield,  died  there  3  Aug  1829; 
married  Mercy  Morgan  who  died  10  July  1839  aged  72.  He 


164  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

served  in  the  Revolution.  Children:  Polly6  1794,  Susanna 
1796,  Almira  1799,  Adeline  1801,  Emily  1804,  Samuel  1807. 

LYDIA,  born  28  Aug  1762;  married  18  May  1785  Medad 
Alexander. 

MARY,  born  8  April  1764;  married  9  Jan  1787  Samuel  Mattoon. 

ELIJAH,  born  at  Northfield  n  Dec  1765,  died  30  March  1834; 
married  i  April  1803  Rebecca  Clendenen  (daughter  of  Archibald) 
who  died  14  Oct  1839  aged  66.  Children:  Rebecca6  1804, 
Elijah  1806,  Lydia  1809. 

SUSANNA,  born  13  April  1768;  married  9  Jan  1787  Samuel 
James  of  Gill. 

A  SON,  born  i  Oct  1770,  died  4  Oct  1770. 

SYLVANUS,  born  28  Feb  1773;  a  sailor,  killed  by  pirates  4  July 
1800. 

32.  JEHIEL4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Moses3  (No.  17),  was 
born  at  Wallingford  28  Oct  1713,  buried  at  Cheshire  25 
July  1772;  married  at  Wallingford  i  Aug  1740  Hannah 
Jones,  daughter  of  Theophilus  and  Hannah  (Mix)  Jones, 
who  was  born  at  Wallingford  4  Oct  1720  and  buried  at 
Cheshire  26  Aug  1783.  Administration  on  the  estate  of 
Jehiel  Merriman  was  granted  to  the  widow  Hannah  in 
August  1772  and  the  estate  was  distributed  31  May  1773. 
(New  Haven  Probate,  vol.  n,  pp.  278,  378).  Administra- 
tion in  the  estate  of  Hannah  Merriman  was  granted  to 
son  Jehiel  10  Nov  1783  (Wallingford  Probate,  vol.  3,  p.  23). 

Children,  all  baptized  at  Cheshire: 

HESTER,5  baptized  February  1741/2,  living  in  1772. 

DANIEL,  baptized  Jan  1742/3,  died  at  Dalton,  Mass.,  19  Feb 
1825;  married  at  Wallingford  3  Oct  1764  Damaris  Andrews 
who  died  at  Dalton  probably  on  6  March  1835.  Children  born 
at  Wallingford:  Chloe 6  1765,  Jesse  1767,  Nathaniel  1770, 
Martha  1772.  Children  born  at  Dalton:  Daniel,6  Betsy  1780. 

HANNAH  (no  record  of  baptism),  living  in  1773. 


FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS  165 

LYDIA,  baptized  18  Oct  1747,  living  in  1773. 

JEHIEL,  baptized  Jan  17^  died  12  May  1806;  married  n 
June  1788  Eunice  Preston,  daughter  of  Ephraim  and  Eunice 
(Merriman)  Preston,  who  died  in  1836.  Child:  Elizabeth  •  1789. 

THANKFUL,  baptized  December  1751,  living  in  1773. 

PHEBE  (no  record  of  baptism),  living  in  1773. 

ABIGAIL  (no  record  of  baptism),  living  in  1773. 

THEOPHILUS,  born  about  1764,  died  at  Franklin,  Pa.,  2  March 
1832;  married  15  Feb  1791  Sarah  Lines,  daughter  of  Ralph  and 
Beersheba  (Hotchkiss)  Lines,  who  was  born  8  March  1768  and 
died  in  1833.  Theophilus  and  his  brother-in-law  Rufus  Lines 
were  pioneers  in  Susquehanna  County,  Pa.  Children:  Titus 
Lines  6  1792,  Julia  1795,  Lois  1798,  Sally  1805,  Alfred  1812. 

33.  BENJAMIN4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Moses3  (No.  17),  was 
born  at  Wallingford  21  Jan  1722,  died  after  1764;  married 
at  Wallingford  2  Jan  1744/5  Susannah  Crittenden  of  Dur- 
ham. On  20  April  1747  he  was  of  Wallingford,  but  on  19 
Feb  1747/8  he  was  "  of  Farmington  in  Southington  "  (WTall- 
ingford  Deeds,  vol.  10,  pp.  352,  453).  He  was  still  living  in 
Farmington  on  28  Feb  1764,  when  Martha  and  Lent  Merri- 
man of  Wallingford  and  Benjamin  Merriman  of  Farmington 
deeded  land  in  Wallingford  (Ibid,  vol.  15,  p.  665).  There 
ha«Abeen  found  the  recordf..o£-only  one  child:  — 

AMOS,S  born  in  Wallingford  20  Oct  1745. 


34.  MOSES  4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Moses3  (No.  17),  was 
born  at  Wallingford  14  Feb  1728,  died  in  the  French  and 
Indian  war  20  Sept  1758;  married  about  1752  Joanna  Mix, 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Lydia  Mix,  who  was  born  at  Wal- 
lingford 13  March  1726;  she  married,  second,  14  March 
1761  Jacob  Teal.  Moses  enlisted  6  April  1758  in  the  2nd 
regiment  ist  company,  Capt.  Wadsworth  commanding,  and 
Avas  reported  dead  the  following  September.  Administra- 


166  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

tion  on  his  estate  was  granted  to  his  widow  Joanna  in  Feb 
1759.     Probably  the  only  child  was: 

THANKFUL,6  baptized  at  Southington  14  July  1754. 

35.  LENT4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Moses3  (No.  17),  was 
born  at  Wallingford  25  May  1731,  died  at  Southington 
3  Sept  1800;  married  at  Wallingford  30  Jan  1754  Katharine 
Wright  who  was  buried  at  Cheshire  n  Jan  1797. 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford : 

LucY,6  born  14  Feb  1755;  married  at  Cheshire  5  Dec  1776 
Caleb  Barnes. 

JOEL,  born  n  Sept  1756,  died  at  Cheshire  17  April  1811; 
married  13  Feb  1775  Lue  Hitchcock,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and 
Rhoda  (Cook)  Hitchcock,  born  24  March  1755,  died  1819.  His 
will  was  made  15  April  1811  and  proved  8  May  1811  (Walling- 
ford Probate,  vol.  7,  p.  456).  Children  baptised  at  Cheshire: 
Joel6  1778,  Mary  1781,  Ezra  1782. 

MAMRE,  born  30  June  1758;  married  at  Cheshire  3  Feb  1783 
Asahel  Tillotson. 

KATHARINE,  born  23  May  1760;  married  at  Cheshire  16  March 
1780  Amos  Bunnell. 

MOSES,  born  30  Oct  1761,  died  at  Hamden  before  1815;  mar- 
ried at  Fair  Haven  Nov  1787  Lois  Wantwood;  he  served  in  the 
Revolution.  Children  baptised  at  Hamden  18  Aug  1795: 
Betsey,6  Henry,  Harvey,  Welthy,  Eliza;  others  baptised,  Lewis 
1800,  Welthy  Maria  1802,  Marcus  1804. 

BENJAMIN,  born  i  Nov  1763;  married  Mary  Everton,  daughter 
of  William  and  Isabel  (Holbrook)  Everton,  who  was  born  in  East 
Haven  in  1762.  He  was  living  in  New  Haven  in  1796  and  1810. 
Child:  William.6 

ESTHER,  born  19  January  1766. 

LENT,  born  6  Nov  1768,  died  at  Southington  i  April  1817. 

MARTHA,  born  5  November  1770. 

EUNICE,  born  23  Feb  1773;  married  at  New  Haven  8  Jan 
1794  William  Trowbridge  who  was  born  23  July  1772  and  died 
Jan.  1818. 


FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  GENERATIONS  167 

36.  CALEB*  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Eliasaph3  (No.  18), 
was  born  at  Wallingford  3  Sept  1725,  died  there  6  Aug  1797; 
married  at  Wallingford  12  May  1747  Margaret  Robinson, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Josiah  and  Ruth  (Merriam)  Robinson, 
who  was  born  at  Wallingford  26  June  1729,  died  there 
July  1795.  The  will  of  Margaret  Merriman,  made  4  July 
1795,  was  proved  18  Aug  1795  (Wallingford  Probate,  vol.  4, 
p.  94). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

JosiAH,8  born  25  March  1748;  married  at  Wallingford  8  March 
1781  Lydia,  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  (Ford)  Johnson  and 
widow  of  Robert  Simpson.  He  served  in  the  Revolution,  enlist- 
ing 28  Dec  1776,  and  was  promoted  to  Corporal  10  July 
1778;  was  a  cooper  by  trade;  was  living  in  1805.  Children: 
Josiah  6  1781,  Robert  1784,  Horace,  1786,  Lydia  1793. 

REBECCA,  born  7  Nov  1750;  married  Edward  Collins. 

JESSE,  born  25  Dec  1752,  died  young.  Q/«< 

CALEB,  born  4  April  1754,  was  living  in  1805;  married  1 2  Deep 
1775  Sarah   Rice/'t^hlldren:    Enoch  6  1777,   Lucy  1778,  Levi 
1783,  Hervey  1787. 

ENOCH,  born  7  Dec  1755,  served  in  the  Revolution  from  i 
Jan  1777  to  10  May  1782  when  he  was  discharged  for  disability. 
abby  Bishop  (New  Haven  Deeds,  vol.  39,  p.  457). 

HOWELL,  died  unmarried  at  Wallingford  in  1805. 

JESSE,  born  5  Oct  1759,  died  at  Meriden  in  1827;  married 
15  Jan  1784  Dolly  Ives,  daughter  of  Titus  and  Dorothy  (Halsey) 
Ives,  who  was  born  18  July  1760.  Administration  on  his  estate 
was  granted  to  his  son  Ho  well  14  Dec  1827  (Wallingford  Probate, 
vol.  12,  p.  218).  He  served  in  the  Revolution.  Children: 
Joel  6  1784,  Salina  1786,  Ira  1789,  Ives  1792,  Sally  1795,  Eunice 
1798,  Howell  1801,  Charles  1807. 

RUTH,  married  John  Wade. 

CHRISTOPHER,  married  at  Berlin  26  Nov  1789  Polly  Bronson. 
On  6  Feb  1807  administration  on  his  estate  was  granted  to 
Oliver  Collins  of  Whitestown,  N.  Y.  He  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tion from  27  July  to  6  Dec.  1780.  Left  issue,  not  traced. 


168  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

37.  TITUS  4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Eliasaph3  (No.  i8),was 
born  at  Wallingford  28  August  1727,  died  at  Meriden  about 
1806;  married  at  Wallingford  20  Feb  1748/9  Dinah  An- 
drews, daughter  of  Elisha  and  Mabel  (Andrews)  Andrews, 
who  was  born  23  March  1729.  His  will  was  made  27  April 
1798  and  proved  19  Jan  1807  (Wallingford  Probate,  vol.  6, 
p.  276). 

Children,  all  born  at  Wallingford: 

ELISHA,B  born  21  Sept  1749,  died  at  Meriden  in  1814.  He 
married  (i)  at  Wallingford  3  June  1773  Mary  Hawley  who  died 
15  Nov  1774;  child,  Zepheny  6  1774.  He  married  (2)  Damaris 
-  who  died  7  Aug  1781;  children,  Mary6  1777,  Zepheny  1780. 
He  married  (3)  25  Dec  1782  Chloe  Merriman  (see  No.  32)  who 
was  born  13  July  1765;  children,  Damaris,6  Chloe,  Orrin,  Iram 
1800. 

CHARLES,  born  31  Oct  1751,  died  28  May  1823;  married  10 
Aug  1775  Rachel  Cowles  who  was  born  6  Jan  1757  and  died 
10  Sept  1826.  Children:  Betsy6  1776,  Benoni  1778,  Rachel  1780, 
Charles  Johnson  1782,  Rachel  1784,  Titus  1786,  Lois  1788, 
Ebenezer  C.  1791,  Elisha  1793,  Lois  1796,  Joel  1799. 

EUNICE,  born  about  1754,  died  n  Sept  1756. 

EUNICE,  born  n  June  1757;  married  Enos  Ives.        •      j.  ii  , 

.  born  10  May  1  760^6^  1832;  married  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  Anna  Perkins,  daughter  of  ^QQtB;  removed  to  Colborne, 
Ont.,  about  1796.  Children:  Hiram  6  1791,  Rebecca  1792, 
Isaiah  1796,  Triphena  1800,  Titus  1806,  Caroline  1809,  James 


ABIGAIL,  born  8  Nov  1762;  married  at  Cheshire  9  Jan  1784 
Zenas  Mitchel. 

SALLY,  born  21  March  1764;  married  at  Wallingford  24  May 
1786  Asahel  Yale. 

TITUS,  born  1768,  removed  to  Bristol,  Conn.,  where  he  died  in 
1848.  Children:  Henry,6  George  1810,  Eli  Todd  1815,  Caroline. 

ELIZABETH,  born  1771;  married  Aaron  Holt. 


FOURTH  AND  i  IFTH  GENERATIONS  169 

38.  AMASA4  MERRIMAN,  son  of  Eliasaph3  (No.  18)  was 
born  at  Wallingford  17  June  1729;  married  first,  at  Wal- 
lingford  26  Sept  1750  Sarah  Ives,  daughter  of  Stephen  and 
Sarah  (Hart)  Ives,  who  was  born  29  May  1733,  died  29 
July  1776;  married  second,   18  Feb  1778  widow  Tabitha 
(Sexton)  Adkins.    He  was  in  Capt.  Hough's  company  in 
the  alarms  at  New  Haven  and  Fairfield  in  July  1779. 

Children;  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

HANNAH,*  born  14  July  1751,  died  29  Sept  1751. 

PHEBE,  born  25  Dec  1752,  died  20  Oct  1753. 

MARY,  born  19  Nov  1754,  died  17  Oct  1755. 

AMASA,  born  10  Oct  1757,  died  25  Feb  1758. 

SARAH,  born  u  May  1759. 

CHARLES,  born  29  Aug  1762,  died  26  Aug  1829;  married  at 
Waterbury  16  May  1784  Anna  Punderson,  daughter  of  David 
and  Thankful  (Todd)  Punderson,  who  was  born  at  New  Haven 
5  Oct  1763  and  died  at  Watertown  i  April  1844.  He  served 
as  drum-major  in  the  Revolution;  settled  at  Watertown, 
Conn.  Children:  Betsey8  1786,  William  Henry  1788,  Nancy 
1792,  Charles  P.  1794,  Nancy  1796,  Charles  P.  1798,  Anna 
1801,  Frederick  1803,  William  Punderson  1805,  George  F.  1808. 

PHEBE,  born  22  Aug  1765,  died  20  Oct  1765. 

AMASA,  born  2  June  1767,  died  7  June  1843;  went  in  1794 
as  a  pioneer  to  Canada  where  he  settled  as  a  farmer  at  Hatley, 
Stanstead  County,  Que.;  married  at  Guildhall,  Vt.  17  March 
1792  Ann  Hall,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Luranna  Hall, who  was  born 
in  1776  at  Enfield,  Conn.  Children:  Sally6  1793,  Isaac  Hosea 
1794,  Amasa  1796,  Joseph  1798,  Harvey  1800,  Elizabeth  1802, 
Nathaniel  1804,  Titus  1806,  Lewis  1808,  Charles  P  1810,  Sally 
1812,  Nancy  Ann  1815,  Ira  Mooney  1817. 

JOSEPH,  born  17  January  1769. 

BENJAMIN,  born  17  Oct  1771,  died  18  May  1774. 

39.  ELIASAPH4    MERRIMAN,  son  of  Eliasaph3  (No.  18), 
was  born  at  Wallingford  2  Nov  1736,  died  there  in  1815; 


170  MERRIMAN  GENEALOGY 

married  there  13  Jan  1762  Jerusha  Mattoon.  He  executed 
his  will  28  April  1803  and  a  codicil  3  Oct  1812;  the  will  was 
proved  25  May  1815  (Wallingford  Probate,  vol.  9,  p.  180). 

Children,  all  born  in  Wallingford: 

AMOS,  born  i  Dec  1762,  lived  at  Cheshire,  removed  to  Scott 

County,  Ky.,  about  1800,  died  there;  married  Abigail  

who  died  in  Sangamon  County,  111.  Children  born  at  Cheshire: 
Polly6  1786,  Lyman  1789,  Reuben  1790,  Lyman  1792,  Abigail 

1795- 

ABIGAIL,  born  6  July  1764;  married  31  Dec  1787  Titus  Preston 
who  was  born  27  Nov  1764  and  died  i  May  1842. 

EUNICE,  born  n  May  1766. 

ELIAKIM,  born  2  July  1769,  died  15  Aug  1780. 

POLLY,  born  10  September  1773. 

REUBEN,  born  9  Sept  1775,  died  18  June  1790. 

ASAPH,  born  i  July  1778,  died  at  Wallingford  in  1830;  married 

Eunice .  Administration  on  his  estate  was  granted  to  his 

son  Andrew  17  Sept  1830  (Wallingford  Probate,  vol.  13,  p.  57). 
He  served  in  the  Revolution.  Children:  Andrew  6  1802,  Silas 
1806.  Julia  1809,  Charles  1811,  Sarah  1812. 

ELIAKIM,  born  7  October  1780. 

ESTHER;  married  20  Jan  1803  Isaac 6  Merriman  (see  No.  28). 


The  above  genealogy  includes  422  persons  born  with  the 
name  Merriman,  there  being  one  of  the  first  generation, 
ii  of  the  second,  21  of  the  third,  68  of  the  fourth,  124  of 
the  fifth,  and  197  of  the  sixth  generation.  It  also  refers 
to  over  300  persons  who  were  connected  with  the  family  by 
marriage. 


APPENDIX 


INDEX 


171 


THE   HISTORICAL   YEAR  AND   THE 
LEGAL    YEAR 


DURING  most  of  the  period  covered  by  the  preceding 
records,  there  were  in  use  two  methods  of  beginning  and 
ending  the  year.  The  historical  year  began  on  January  i 
and  ended  on  December  31,  while  the  legal  year  began  on 
March  25  and  ended  on  March  24.  Consequently  there 
is  often  some  uncertainty  regarding  the  year  to  which  a 
given  date  belongs  when  that  date  lies  between  January 
i  and  March  24  inclusive. 

When  the  double  notation  1693/4  or  169!  was  used  in 
a  record,  there  is  no  uncertainty,  for  it  means  that  the 
legal  year  1693  had  not  ended  although  the  historical  year 
1694  had  begun.  But  when  a  date  like  20  February  1675 
is  given,  it  may  be  uncertain  whether  it  was  intended  for 
the  legal  year  1675  and  the  historical  year  1676,  or  whether 
it  was  meant  for  the  historical  year  1675  and  the  legal 
year  1674. 

The  historical  year  was  used  in  the  common  affairs  of  life, 
and  all  almanacs  were  based  upon  it.  The  writer  has 
examined  many  almanacs  of  the  seventeenth  and  eighteenth 
centuries,  and  finds  that  they  all  begin  with  January  i  and 
end  with  December  31,  and  that  they  contain  no  reference 
whatever  to  the  legal  year.  New  Year's  Day  was  celebrated 
in  England  on  January  i,  as  we  learn  from  the  Diary  of 

173 


174  APPENDIX 

Samuel  Pepys,  it  being  a  time  when  gifts  were  exchanged 
and  accounts  balanced.  In  New  England  it  was  a  day  of 
lesser  importance,  and  the  Diary  of  Samuel  Sewall  makes 
no  reference  to  it  during  the  seventeenth  century.  Under 
date  of  January  i  H~&f>  however,  he  mentions  that  the 
new  century  was  ushered  in  by  trumpet  blasts. 

The  legal  year  coincided  with  the  fiscal  year  of  the  govern- 
ment of  England.  In  this  method  of  reckoning  March 
was  often  called  the  first  month,  April  the  second  month, 
and  so  on,  February  being  the  twelfth  month.  Thus  on 
page  95,  the  first  note  from  the  Wallingford  records  is 
dated  "31.11.69,"  this  meaning  31  January  1669/70.  The 
legal  year  was  used  in  state  and  town  records,  and  slao) 
generally  in  church  records.  Probably  nearly  all  of  the 
dates  prior  to  1753  given  in  the  preceding  pages  without 
double  notation,  are  for  the  legal  year. 

In  1752  the  Gregorian  calendar  replaced  the  previous 
Julian  calendar  in  England  and  America,  and  at  the  same 
time  the  legal  year  was  abolished.  After  1752,  then,  dates 
are  always  given  for  the  historical  year.  Almanacs  for 
1752  contain  no  days  between  September  2  and  September 
14,  and  hence  this  year,  in  England  and  America,  had 
only  355  days.  Some  writers  inadvisedly  extend  the  Gre- 
gorian calendar  backward  to  dates  preceding  1752,  but  in 
this  volume  all  dates  are  given  as  they  occur  on  the  records. 
George  Washington  was  born  on  February  n,  1732,  of  the 
Julian  calendar;  in  celebrating  this  day  on  February  22, 
we  commit  serious  error. 


INDEX 


This  Index  includes  only  American  Merrimans  and  persons  descended 
from  them  or  connected  with  them  by  marriage.  Many  English  Merri- 
mans are  mentioned  on  pages  33,  34,  48,  107-133. 


Abernathy,  Jemima,  142 

Sarah, 147, 151 

Susannah,  147 

William,  147 
Adams,  John  Merriman,  20,  32, 

107,  121, 128 

Addis,  Eva  Merriman,  16,  17 
Adkins,  Tabitha,  169 
Albright,  Mina  Clark,  13 
Alexander,  Lydia,  164 

Medad,  164 
Allen,  Archelaus,  161 

Ebenezer,  155 

Elizabeth,  155 

Laura,  n 

Mehi  table,  161 

Sarah, 155 
Ailing,  Archelaus,  161 

Prudence,  161 
Andrews,  Damaris,  164 

Dinah, 168 

Elisha,  1 68 

Elizabeth,  153 

Felix,  146 

Hannah,  145 


Andrews,  John,  145 

Mabel,  168 

Mary  Ann,  10 

Thomas,  146 
Atkins,  Eunice,  157 

Sabrina,  157 

Samuel,  157 
Atwater,  Hannah,  159 

Moses,  143 

Sarah,  143 

Stephen,  159 
Atwood,  D.  P.,  15 
Austin,  John,  161 

Prudence,  161 

Backes,  S.  M.  (Mrs.),  n,  15,  17 
Baldwin,    Carlisle    H.   (Mr.    and 

Mrs.),  15 
Barnes,  Bessie  C.,  15,  17 

Deborah,  141 

Julia  R.,  n,  16 

Lucy,  157 
Bartholemew,  Hannah,  158 

John, 154 

Josiah,  152 

175 


176 


INDEX 


Bartholemew,  Phebe,  152 

Samuel,  158 

Sarah,  154 
Beach,  Azariah,  152 

Benjamin,  140 

Jemima,  142 

Martha,  152 

Mary,  140 

Nathaniel,  142 

Sarah,  160 

Thomas,  160 
Beckley,  Helen  Frost,  10 
Bell,  Clara  Merriman,  12,  85,  86 
Benham,  Abigail,  58,  140 

Comfort,  148 

Elizabeth,  160 

Hope,  140,  1 60 

John, 148 

Joseph,  58, 139, 140, 160 

Mary,  58,  140 

Winifred,  139 
Benedict,  Esther,  140 
Bennett,  Arthur  H.,  n,  88 
Bidwell,  Ephraim,  146 

Elizabeth,  146 

Billard,  Harriet  Merriman,  to,  14 
Bishop,  Nabby,  167 
Black,  John  M.,  9,  91 
Blakeslee,  Oliver,  147 

Susannah,  147 

Blanchard,  Emma  G.  M.,  12 
Bonticou,  Susan,  156 

Susannah,  156 

Timothy,  156 
Bronson,  Polly,  167 
Brooks,  Arabella,  15 

Ella  Finch,  15 
Brown,  Lydia,  157 
Buell,  Andrew   (Mr.   and  Mrs.), 
15,  58 


Buell,  Carleton,  W.,  9 

Fred  (Mrs.),  15 

Jennie  Merriman,  10,  58 

Oscar  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  15 
Bull,  Jane  S.  Lewis,  10,  89 
Bunnell,  Amos,  166 

Katharine,  166 
Butler,  Mary  A.,  10,  14 

Campbell,  Gabriel  (Mrs.),  12 
Carter,  Daniel,  155 

Jemima,  155 
Catterlin,  Frank  C.,  n 
Chamberlain,  Anna,  151 

Ephraim,  151 
Chatterton,  Elizabeth,  141 
Church,  W.  B.  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  15 
Clark,  Charity,  159 

Damaris,  141 

Elliot  A.,  12 

Isaiah  Merriman,  n 

Samuel,  140 

Sarah,  159 

Stephen,  160 

Sylvanus,  141 
Clendenen,  Archibald,  164 

Rebecca,  164 
Collins,  Edward,  167 

Martha,  142 

Rebecca,  167 
Cook,  Ephraim,  145 

Hannah,  146 

Hope,  140,  1 60 

Lydia,  145 

Mary,  140 

Rhoda,  1 66 

Samuel,  140,  146 

Sarah,  146,  149 

Titus,  149 
Cowles,  Rachel,  168 


INDEX 


177 


Grain,  John,  141 

Doolittle,  Sarah,  147 

Mary,  141 

Durham,  Abigail,  140 

Cranston,  Clara  L.,  13 

Samuel,  140 

Crittenden,  Susannah,  165 

Cross,  Joseph,  163 

Earngey,  Frances  S.,  u,  86 

Polly,  163 

Eliot,  Abial,  162 

Grossman,  Anna,  144 

Margery,  162 

Bartholomew,  144 

Mary,  162 

Crowle,  Kate  G.,  9 

Evans,  Eleanor  Frances,  11,85 

Culver,  Eleanor,  158 

Everton,  Isabel,  166 

Rachel,  158 

Mary,  166 

Zebulon,  158 

William,  166 

Curtis,  Abigail,  58,  142 

Elizabeth,  58,  141 

Fairchild,  Lucius  (Mrs.),  87 

Esther,  161 

Fales,  Charles  H.  (Mrs.),  10 

George  M.,  3,  10,  15,  18,  19,  25, 

Farmer,  Lucy  Merriman,  12,  16 

58,70 

Fitch,  Nathaniel,  157 

Hannah,  58,  142 

Mary,  157 

Jemima,  58,  142 

Fisk,  George  W.  (Mrs.),  10,  87 

John,  58,  141,  .142 

Ford,  Lydia,  167 

Joseph,  58,  142 

Paul  G.,  14 

Martha,  142 

R.  W.  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  14 

Mary,  58,  140,  141 

Francis,  Emily  J.,  16 

Nathaniel,  58,  141 

L.  A.  (Mrs.),  1  6 

Phebe,  141 

Frederick,  Elizabeth,  145 

Rebecca,  58,  142 

William,  145 

Samuel,  58,  141 

Frost,  Adelaide  L.,  16 

Sarah,  58,  142 

Minnie  C.,  16 

Thomas,  58,  141,  142 

Reuben  T.,  10 

Ruth,  162 

Davis,  Leona,  15 

Samuel,  162 

William  H.  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  15 

De  Forest,  Betsy,  156 

Gillette,  Mary,  139 

Othniel,  156 

Goddard,     William    H.     (Mrs.), 

Doolittle,  Abraham,  145,  151 

ii,  15,  17,  18,  29 

Daniel,  152 

Goodyear,  Caroline  Merriman,  10, 

Eunice,  153 

15 

Martha,  152 

Esther  M.,  15 

Mary,  145 

Gordon,  Susan,  156 

Samuel,  153 

Griffith,  George  W.  (Mrs.),  10 

178 


INDEX 


Hall,  Agnes  E.,  n,  16 

Ann,  169 

Benjamin,  159 

David,  150 

Elizabeth,  160 

Eunice,  159,  163 

Giles,  1 60 

Hezekiah,  160 

Jesse,  158 

Julia  M.,  16,  17 

Levi,  169 

Luranna,  169 

Lydia,  157 

Mehitabel,  150 

Nathaniel,  141,  158 

Peter,  157 

Robbins  A.,  16 

Sarah,  141, 150, 157 

Seth  J.  (Mrs.),  10,  14 

Statira,  159 

Susannah,  159 

Thankful,  160 

Hallenbeck,  E.  R.  (Mrs.),  16 
Halsey,  Dorothy,  167 
Hamilton,  John  (Mrs.),  9 
Hart,  Irving  W.,  n 

Roxana,  157 

Sara  Merriman,  12,  89 

Sarah, 169 
Harwood,  Lydia,  163 

John, 163 
Hawks,  Eleazer,  163 

Mary,  163 
Hawley,  Mary,  168 
Hayes,  Harriet  M.,  10,  84 
Hebard,  Abigail,  163 

Timothy,  163 
Hemingway,     Buell      (Mr.    and 

Mrs.),  n,  16 
Hill.  C.  R.t  16 


Hitchcock,  Abigail,  58,  140 

Benjamin,  58,  141,  166 

Damaris,  58,  141 

Deborah,  141 

Elizabeth,  140,  141 

Hannah,  58,  141 

John,  58,  140,  141 

Katharine,  163 

Lue,  1 66 

Mary,  58,  140,  158 

Margery,  58,  141 

Marlow,  141 

Matthias,  58,  140,  141 

Nathaniel,  58,  140 

Rhoda,  1 66 

Samuel,  58,  140,  158 

Sarah,  141 

Sophronia,  158 

Thankful,  141 
Holbrook,  Isabel,  166 
Holt,  Aaron,  168 

Abigail,  142 

Elizabeth,  168 

Joseph,  142 

Hotchkiss,  Beersheba,  165 
Hough,  Sarah,  141 
How,  Sarah,  141 
Hulls,  Abigail,  153 

Benjamin,  153 

Elizabeth,  153 

Jeremiah,  149,  151 

Mary,  149 

Huffman,  Maude  Merriman,  13, 84 
Humphrey,  Julia  Merriman,  12,  35 
Hunt,  John,  162 

Mary,  162 

Ives,  Amelia  Frost,  12,  85 
Dolly,  167 
Dorothy,  167 


INDEX 


179 


Ives,  Elizabeth,  141 

Judd,  Clinton  (Mrs.),  n,  85 

Esther,  140 

Homer  Arden,  13 

Gideon,  58,  140 

Hannah,  58,  139,  140 

King,  Carrie  Frost,  n 

Joel  (Mrs.),  15 

Klingke,  Gertrude,  14 

John,  58,  139 

Paul  (Mrs.),  14 

Joseph,  58,  140 

Mary,  139,  140 

Lawrence,  Harriet  Merriman,  12 

Nathaniel,  58,  140 

Leete,  Mary,  162 

Sarah,  155,  169 

William,  162 

Stephen,  169 

Lewis,  Agape,  59,  146 

Titus,  167 

Amy,  159 

William,  139 

Barnabas,  59,  146 

Benjamin,  59,  146 

Jacobus,  Donald,  L.,  r,  3,  10,  18. 

Caleb,  146 

23,  60,  137 

Ebenezer,  59,  145 

James,  Samuel,  164 

Elizabeth,  59,  145,  146 

Susanna,  164 

Ella  Bull,  12 

Jennings,  Sarah  Lewis,  140 

Esther,  146 

Johnson,  Abigail,  140 

Felix,  146 

Edward  M.  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  n, 

Hannah,  59,  146 

16 

Hezekiah,  145 

George  Ransom,  10,  14,  58 

Jane  S.,  89 

Hezekiah,  149 

Malachi,  59,  146 

Jacob,  140 

Mary,  145 

John,  167 

Sarah,  140,  146 

Joseph  R.,  14 

Lines,  Alice,  142 

Katharine,  163 

Beersheba,  165 

Lambert,  142 

Hannah,  58,  142 

Lydia,  167 

Mary,  140 

Rebecca,  142 

Ralph,  142 

Ruth,  149 

Rufus,  165 

Sherborne,  163 

Samuel,  140 

Jones,  Eunice,  151 

Sarah,  165 

Hannah,  164 

Lockwood  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  9 

Nathaniel,  153 

Lynch,  Helen  Merriman,  13 

Sarah,  153 

Theophilus,  164 

MacKenzie,  William    A.,  n,  16, 

William,  151 

17,  18 

Judd,  Asa  G.,  13 

McKenzie,  Eunice,  15 

180 


INDEX 


McKenzie,  Fannie  L.,  15,  23 

Theodore  H.  (Mr.  and  Mrs.), 
10, 15 

Samuel  H.,  10,  15 
McMahon,  George  Porter,  12 
Macklam,  George  F.,  12 
Mansfield,  Comfort,  148 

Silence,  148 

Martin,     George    B.    (Mr.     and 
Mrs.),  10,  15 

Jackson  (Mrs.),  10,  15 
Mattoon,  Ebenezer,  160 

Jerusha,  170 

Martha,  160 

Mary,  164 

Samuel,  164 
Matthews,  Esther,  146 

Lucy,  156,  157 
Merriam,  John,  121,  143 

Mary,  121,  143 

Ruth.  167 

Susan  E.,  9,  14,  59 

Merriman,  Abel,  88, 149, 150, 162, 

163 

Abigail2,  22,  23,  56,  57,  58,  140 
Abigail,  58,  143,  153,  163,  165, 

168, 170 
Adeline,  164 
Agnes,  12 
Albert,  157 
Alfred,  165 

Alice  M.,  10,  15,  21,  47,  108 
Alice  P.,  13,  87 
Almira,  164 
Almon,  157 
Alvin,  F.,  9,  88 
Amasa,  84,  85,  153,  170 
Amon  Hart,  157 
Amos,  165.  169 


Merriman,  Amy,  159 
Amy  Lewis,  159 
Andrew,  170 
Ann,  169 
Anna,  59,  143,   151,   152,  155, 

168, 169 
Anne,  150 
Anson,  155 
Artemesia,  162 
Arthur  H.,  10,  14 
Asaph, 170 
Auguste  C.,  13 
Belle,  12,  83 

Benjamin,  152,  165,  166,  169 
Benjamin  Hall,  159 
Benoni,  83,  84,  86,  168 
Betsey,  156,  157,  163,  166,  169 
Betsy,  164,  1 68 
Caleb2,   22,   23,  26,  56,  57,  59, 

77-81,  84,  85,   86,  103,    105, 

!38,  !39>  J44, 148 
Caleb,   58,  83,    142,    143,   149, 

150,  152,  153,  155,  159,  162, 

167 

Caroline,  168 

Charles,  153,  167,  168,  169,  170 
Charles  C.,  12 
Charles  F.,  12,84 
Charles  H.,  13,  16 
Charles  Johnson,  168 
Charles  N.,  11,89 
Charles  P.,  169 
Charity,  159 
Chauncey,  155 
Chloe,  164,  168 
Christopher,  167 
Clara,  12,  1 6,  85,  86 
Comfort,  148 
Damaris,  164,  168 
Dana  Sibley,  9 


INDEX 


181 


Merriman,  Daniel,  88, 143, 147, 164 

David,  150,  1 60 

Dervilla,  155 

Dinah, 168 

Doctor,  157 

Dolly,  167 

E.  A.  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  14,  25 

E.  L.  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  13,  16 

Earl  C.,  12,  16 

Earl  Jefferson,  157 

Ebenezer,  58,  153,  155 

Ebenezer  C.,  168 

Eber,  148,  157 

Edson,  14 

Edward,  162 

Edward  D.,  n 

Edward  M.,  9,  87 

Edward  W.,  9,  14 

Eli  Ives  (Mrs.),  15 

Eli  T.,  13,  90 
Eli  Todd,  83,  91,  168 
Eliakim,  170 

Eliasaph,  59,  85,  145,  153,  169 
Elihu  C.,  163 
Elijah,  164 
Eliot,  162 
Eliot  Hall,  162 
Elisha,  1 68 
Elsie,  16 
Eliza,  157,  166 
Elizabeth2,  22,  23,  56,  57,  59 
Elizabeth,  58,  59,  88,  142,  143, 
145,  148,  149,  153,  155,  156, 
160,  162,  165,  168,  169 
EmmaG.,  12 
Emily,  164 
Emily  A.,  15 
Emily  E.,  n 
Enoch,  153,  167 
Ernest  A.,  15 


Merriman,  Esther,  58,   143,  152, 

166, 170 
Eunice,  151,  152,  153,  159,  163, 

165,  166,  167,  168,  170 
Eunice  Atwater,  159 
Eva,  16 
Ezra,  157,  166 
F.  B.,  87 
F.  E.  (Mrs.),  16 
Florence,  12,  83 
Floyd,  15 
Frances,  156 
Frances  A.,  14 
Frank  B.,  n 
Frank  W.,  12,  16 
Franklin,  158 
FredK.,  n 
Frederick,  169 
George,  9, 13, 14,  58,  83, 84, 143, 

147,  149,  154,  155,  158,  159, 

162,  168 
George   B.,   3,    n,    16,  17,  18, 

19,  86,  106,  109, 125 
George  C.,  13 
George  Elliot,  12 
George  F.,  169 
George  Isaiah,  9 
George  M.,  9,  14 
George  Macy,  14 
George  N.,  n,  89 
George  O.,  84 
George  W.,  12 
Gertrude  B.,  n,  87 
H.  O.,  12 
Hannah2,   22,   23,    56,   58,    86, 

138,  139,  145 
Hannah,  59,  142,  147,  152,  156, 

158, 159,  163,  164,  169 
Harmon,  157 
Harold  T.,  13,  16 


182 


INDEX 


Merriman,  Harriet,  10,  12,  14,  84, 

159 

Harry  Morton,  1 1 
Harvey,  166,  169 
Hattie,  15 
Helen,  13 
Helen  C.,  n 

Henry,  9,  14,  162,  166,  168 
Henry  J.,  10,  15,  59 
Hervey,  167 
Hester,  164 
Hiram,  162,  168 
Horace,  167 
Howell,  167 
Ichabod, 154, 155 
Ira,  167 

Ira  Mooney,  169 
Iram,  168 
Isaac,  162,  170 
Isaac  Hosea,  169 
Isaac  Lewis,  159 
Isaiah,  168 
Israel,  58,  142,  143,  148,   149, 

158 

Ives,  167 

James,  85,  156,  158 
James  Leigh,  u,  16,  26,  59 
James  Monroe,  168 
James  Stillman,  157 
Jefferson  Davis,  13,  87 
Jehiel,  152,  164,  165 
Jelin,  148 
Jemima,  148,  155 
Jennie.  10,  58 
Jerusha,  150, 170 
Jesse,  164,  167 
Joan,  22,  24.  67,  77,  137,  138 
Joanna,  165 

Joel,  154,  155,  166,  167,  168 
Joel  Chauncey,  12,  86 


Merriman,  John2,   22,  23,  25,  26, 

56>  57, S8, 79, 95, 98-103, 138, 

139,  142,  143 
John,  24,  58,  85,  142,  143, 147, 

148, 149,  155, .156 
John  J.,  10,  85 

Joseph,  85,  148,  155,  158,  169 
Joseph  R.,  10 
Josephine  A.,  n 
Josiah,  167 

Josiah  H.  (Mrs.),  10,  15 
Julia,  12,  85,  165,  170 
Katharine,  144,  151,  152,  166 
Laura,  159 

Lent,  152,  153,  165,  166 
Leonard,  155 
Leonard  J.,  12,  16,  26 
Levi,  163,  167 
Lewis,  166,  169 
Lois,  147,  154,  165,  166,  168 
Lorena  Beatrice,  12,  84 
Lorenzo,  157 
Lovisa,  157 
Lowly,  155 
Louise  B.,  12,  83 
Lucius  H.,  ii 
Lucy,   12,   156,  157,   161,   162, 

166, 167 
Lue,  1 66 
Lydia,  59,  145,  156,  157,  163, 

164, 165, 167 
Lyman,  170 
M.  Hemingway,  12 
M.  LaFrone,  12,  16,  21,  26,  90 
Mabel,  155,  162 
Mamre,  166 
Mansfield,  3,  12,  16,  18,  19,  21, 

24,  26,  28,  64,  107,  155 
Marcus,  155,  156,  159,  166 
Margaret,  167 


INDEX 


183 


Merriman,  Martha,  152,  160,  163, 

164, 165, 166 

Mary2,  22,  23,  56,  57,  58,  141 
Mary,  58,   59,   105,    121,    143, 

144,  149,  151,  152,  153,  155, 

157,  159,  161,  162,  163,  164, 

166,  168,  169 
Mary  E.,  n 
Mary  Elizabeth,  10,  15 
Mattie,  n 
Maude,  13,  84 
Maurice  H.,  13,  88 
Mehitabel,  150,  158,  161 
Melia,  158 
Mercy,  163 
Miles,  144,  152 
Molly,  147 
Moses,  59,  145.  i52>  IS3,  165, 

1 66 

Nabby,  167 

Nancy,  157,  162,  163,  169 
Nancy  Ann,  169 
Nathan,  147,  154 

NATHANIEL,1    I,    3,    5,    30,    62, 

133,  137;  ancestry,  19,  20, 
32-34,  108,  112,  123,  131, 
133;  birth,  18,  20,  36,  108, 
120;  boyhood,  36,  106;  voy- 
age to  America,  20,  38,  41; 
in  Pequot  war,  21,  43;  in 
New  Haven,  21,  45-56,  104; 
in  Wallingford,  24,  64-69,  73, 
95-103, 105, 106, 139;  in  King 
Philip's  war,  25,  65,  67,  70- 
76;  death,  20,  23;  wife,  22, 
24,  52,  67;  children,  22,  24, 
56,  67,  138-146;  will  and 
estate,  25,  26,  31,  77-82 
Nathaniel*,  25,  57,  74,  76,  95- 
98,  104,  105, 138, 139 


Merriman,  Nathaniel,  59, 144, 149, 

161,  162, 164, 169 
Nicholas,  144,  152 
Norman  Mansfield,  155 
Norman  Nathaniel,  12 
O.  P.  (Mrs.),  ii 
Olcott,  158 
Orrin,  168 
Patience,  155 
Peleg,  157 
Perez,  157 

Phebe,  59, 106, 145, 152, 165, 169 
Philendia,  85 
Phineas,  150,  161 
Polly,  163,  164,  167,  170 
Porter  Lee,  12,  16,  17,  19,  25 
Prudence,  161 
Rachel,  158,  168 
Rebecca,  164,  167,  168 
Reuben,  158,  170 
Richard  Mansfield,  13,  84 
Robert,  163,  167 
Roger  B,,  3,  12,  16,  18,  19,  21. 
Rogers,  158  [38,  122 

Rosanna,  155 
Roswell,  157 
Roxanna,  155,  157 
Ruth,  149,  162,  167 
Ruth  Sedgwick,  159 
Sabrina,  157 
Sabrina  Hastings,  157 
Salina,  167 
Salmon,  157 

Sally,  156,  165,  167,  168,  169 
Samuel1,  22,  23,  24,  26,  56,  57, 

59,  79,  90,  95,  100-103,  138, 

139.  143 
Samuel,  59,  90,  107,  144,  150, 

151,  152,  155,  156,  157,  159, 

163,  164 


184 


INDEX 


Merriman,  Samuel  Fitch,  157 
Samuel  Green,  158 
Samuel  Sears,  12,  16,  19 
Samuel  Sedgwick,  163 
Sara,  12,  89 
Sarah,  14,  58, 143, 148, 149, 151, 

152,  153,  iS4,  iSS,  iS7,  158, 

159,  160,  162,  163,  165,  167, 

169, 170 

Sarah  Parmalee,  156 
Sebrina,  158 
Seth  Hamilton,  90 
Sherlett  Eunice,  157 
Silas,  148,  156,  157,  159,  170 
Silas  Atkins,  157 
Statira,  159 
Stephen, 152 
Stillman,  157 
Sophronia,  157,  158 
Susanna,  156, 164 
Susannah,   58,    143,    147,    154, 

iSS,  165 

Sylvanus,  163,  164 
Tabitha,  169 
Thaddeus,  12,  16,  24 
Thankful,   148,   150,   160,  165, 

1 66 
Theophilus,  59,    90,    144,  150, 

151,  162,  163,  165 
Thurston  Cables,  n 
Titus,  85, 153, 154, 155, 168, 169 
Titus  Lines,  165 
Titus  Mooney  (Mrs.),  12,  85 
Triphena,  168 
Turhand,  153 
Vinton  R.,  9 
Wadsworth,  155 
Wealthy,  166 
Wealthy  Maria,  166 
William,  87,  155,  158,  166 


Merriman,  William  B.,  16 
William  Henry,  169 
William  Punderson,  169 
Willis  E.,  12 
Willis  G.,  12,84 
Zepheny, 168 
Zilpha,  163 

Merwin,  Daniel,  146 

Elizabeth,  146 
Miles,  Anna,  144 
Miller,  Benjamin,  151 

Mary,  151 
Mix,  Daniel,  165 

Hannah,  164 

Joanna,  165 

Lydia,  165 
Mitchel,  Abigail,  168 

Zenas,  168 
Morgan,  Mercy,  163 
Moss,  Esther,  161 

John, 25 

Jonathan,  161 

Lucy,  161 

Mary,  142 
Munger,  Agape,  146 

Jonathan,  146 
Munson,  C.  La  Rue,  12,  86 

Frances,  156 

Joseph,  141 

Lent,  145 

Margery,  141 

Marlow,  141 

Mary,  105,  158 

Moses,  152 

Phebe,  106,  145,  152 

Rebecca,  142 

Samuel,  105,  144,  145 

Waitstill,  106,  145 

William,  142 


INDEX 


185 


Neal,  Hannah,  158 

Stoddard,  158 

Walter  H.,  10 
Neale,  Elisha  J.  (Mrs.),  16 
Newton,  Charles  M.,  ir 
Nourse,  Mattie  Merriman,  n 

Page,  Clara  Merriman,  16 

JoeL  161 

Mehitabel,  161 

Theophilus,  161 
Parker,  Laura,  159 

Joseph, 142 

Sarah, 142 
Parmalee,  Sally,  156 
Peck,  Elizabeth,  58,  142 

Joel,  161 

John, 142 

Lucy, 161 

Margery,  141 

Mary,  142,  159 

Ruth,  149 

Stephen,  141 
Perkins,  Anna,  168 

Anna  Q.,  14 

Enoch.  168 

Pierce,  Hattie  Merriman,  15 
Pitel,  JohnC.  (Mrs.),  15 
Pousley,  Elizabeth,  155 
Poyer,  Lydia  C.,  11,88 
Powers,  Sally  Andrews,  n,  16 

Perley  (Mrs.),  17 

Ruth,  16,  17 
Pratt,  J.  H.,  10 
Preston,  Abigail,  170 

Eliasaph,  144 

Elizabeth,  153 

Ephraim,  153,  165 

Esther,  153 

Eunice,  153,  165 


Preston,  Mary,  59,  105,  144 

Reuben,  153 

Titus,  170 

Prichard,  Kate  A.,  n,  16,  59 
Punderson,  Anna,  169 

David,  169 

Thankful,  169 

Quigley,  Auguste  C.  M.,  13 

Reed,  William  E.,  12 

Rice,  Sarah,  167 

Robbins,  C.  A.  (Mr.  and  Mrs.),  15 

Robinson,  Margaret,  167 

Josiah,  167 

Ruth,  167 

Rockwell,  Sarah,  150 
Rogers,  Elijah   (Mr.  and    Mrs.), 
10,  15 

Hannah,  157 
Royce,  Anna,  151 

Benjamin,  151 

Joseph,  145 

Mary,  140,  145 

Prudence,  161 

Thankful,  150 
Russell,  Ellen  M.,  16 

Savage,  Sylvia  Ann,  10 
Sedgwick,  Ruth,  149 

Samuel,  149 
Sexton,  Tabitha,  169 
Shattuck,  Jennie  Snow,  12 
Shepard,  Celia  Adelaide,  10 
Simpson,  Lydia,  167 

Robert.  167 

Steele,  H.  Merriman,  10 
Stephens,  Hattie  R.,  9 
Smith,  Ella  I.,  10,  15 
Stebbins,  Asahel,  163 

Lydia,  163 


186 


INDEX 


Street,  Anna,  59,  143,  144 

Elizabeth,  142 

Katharine,  144 

Nicholas,  144 

Samuel,  142,  144 
Sutliff,  E.  R.,  9 
Sutliffe,  Claude  V.,  10 

Frederick  A.,  10,  15,  58 

Taylor,  Eleanor,  158 

Sarah,  151 

Thomas,  151 
Thompson,  Hannah,  155 

Mary,  140 
Teal,  Jacob,  165 

Joanna,  165 
Thorp,  Abner,  147 

Benjamin,  147 

Hannah,  155 

Mabel,  155 

Molly,  147 

Samuel,  147,  155 

Susannah,  147 
Tillotson,  Asahel,  166 

Mamre,  166 
Todd,  Elizabeth,  143 

Gershom,  143 

Michael,  142 

Thankful,  169 

Tomlinson,  Caroline  Merriman,  n 
Townsend,  Benjamin  R.  (Mrs.),  16 
Treadway,  Sarah  Merriman,  14 
Trowbridge,  Eunice,  166 

William,  166 
Tune,  Mary,  151 
Turhand,  Elizabeth,  145 

Henry,  145 
Tuttle,  Deborah,  141 

Ezekiel,  143 

Ezra,  147 


Tuttle,  Isaiah,  157 
Josiah,  141 
Lovisa,  157 
Rebecca,  155 
Ruth,  157 
Susannah, 143 
W.  P.  (Mrs.),  10 

Upson,  Frederick  Carter,  15 
Hannah,  156 

Van  Nostrand,  S.  B.,  13 

Wade,  John,  167 

Ruth,  167 

Wantwood,  Lois,  166 
Welcher,  Sarah,  151 

Thomas,  151 
Welles,  Elizabeth,  141 
White,  Eben  (Mrs.),  9 
Wightman,  Eunice,  157 
Wilcox,  Jemima,  148 

Lydia,  156 

Mary,  144 

Obadiah,  148 

Silence,  148 
Wilson,  Ruth,  157 
Wolcott,  Charles  W.  (Mrs.),  10,  15 

Marion  A.,  15 
Woodruff,  Oliver  (Mrs.),  10 
Woods,  Agnes  Merriman,  12 
Wright,  Elisha,  163 

Katharine,  166 

Sarah,  163 

Yale,  Asahel,  168 

Mary,  140 

Sally,  168 

Thomas,  140 
Young,  Florence  Merriman,  12,  83 


UNSOLVED  PROBLEMS 


Did  Benjamin  Merriman  (No.  33,  page  165)  have  a  son  named 
Abraham  who  went  to  Massachusetts? 

Who  was  the  Samuel  Merriman  (page  158)  said  to  have  been 
the  father  of  Reuben  of  Litchfield,  Conn.? 

A  Samuel  Merriman  is  said  to  have  been  in  Middletown, 
Conn.,  in  1751  and  two  Merriman  girls  were  married  there  at  later 
dates.  Who  were  they? 

Benjamin  Newbury,  a  prominent  man  of  Windsor,  Conn, 
died  about  1710,  and  left  a  widow  Hannah.  In  Colonial  Records 
of  Connecticut  mention  is  made  in  1716  of  Mrs.  Hannah  Merri- 
man and  in  1723  of  Hannah  Newbury  alias  Merriman.  Who 
was  her  husband? 

Daniel  Dimock  and  Thankful  Merriman  were  married  at 
Durham,  Conn.,  27  May  1762.  He  was  born  in  1738.  Was 
this  Thankful  the  daughter  of  John  and  Jemima  Merriman 
(No.  n,  page  148)?  If  so,  Daniel  Dimock  was  seven  years 
younger  than  his  wife,  a  disparity  unusual  in  those  days.  If  not, 
who  was  this  Thankful? 

187 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL 


A     000  020  760     5 


